The film is celebrated for its story and performances, winning . It won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and five awards at the 53rd Filmfare Awards, including the Critics Award for Best Film and Best Actor for Shah Rukh Khan. The film was also a major commercial success, grossing over ₹1.01 billion worldwide.

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The film’s success was even more impressive because it was marketed as a sports drama with no romantic subplot, no lip‑synced songs (the music plays only in the background), and an older, grittier SRK character. It proved that audiences were ready for mature, issue‑based cinema beyond typical Bollywood romance.

National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment

Critics praised the film’s direction, taut screenplay, and realistic portrayal of hockey matches. Shah Rukh Khan’s performance was especially lauded as a departure from his usual romantic roles: “SRK delivered a nuanced, authoritative yet vulnerable performance. His portrayal of determination, leadership, and emotional depth carries the film’s core”. The film was also noted for subtly addressing taboo topics such as homoerotic relationships between female players and questioning traditional family structures.

Other notable wins included and Best Story (Jaideep Sahni), Screen Awards for Best Film and Best Director , and a Star Screen Award for Best Actor (SRK) .