The Critics Choice Awards 2025 brought a mix of excitement and disappointment for Indian cinema and television enthusiasts. Hopes were high for a significant win, but the night ended on a bittersweet note as major Indian contenders missed out on top honors.

Citadel: Honey Bunny Falls Short in Best Foreign Language Series

One of the most anticipated categories of the night, Best Foreign Language Series, saw tough competition. Indian spy thriller Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, failed to secure the award. Despite its gripping storyline and action-packed sequences, the Raj and DK-created series lost to the globally acclaimed Korean phenomenon Squid Game.

Tough Competition in the Best Foreign Language Series Category

The race for the Best Foreign Language Series was intense, with several high-quality international productions vying for the award. The nominees included:

Acapulco (Apple TV+)
La Maquina (Hulu)
The Law According to Lidia Poët (Netflix)
My Brilliant Friend (HBO Max)
Pachinko (Apple TV+)
Senna (Netflix)

Ultimately, the award went to Squid Game, further cementing South Korea's dominance in global entertainment.

Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light Misses Best Foreign Film Win

In another setback for Indian cinema, Payal Kapadia’s critically acclaimed film All We Imagine As Light did not secure the award for Best Foreign Film. The honor went to the much-celebrated film Emilia Perez, which impressed critics and audiences alike.

About Citadel: Honey Bunny

A high-octane Hindi-language spy action series, Citadel: Honey Bunny serves as both a prequel and spin-off to Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel. The series dives into the thrilling backstory of Honey and Bunny, who are revealed to be the parents of Nadia Sinh (played by Priyanka Chopra in the original Citadel series).

The show features an ensemble cast, including:

Varun Dhawan
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
Kay Kay Menon
Simran
Sikandar Kher
Saqib Saleem
Soham Majumdar
Shivankit Singh Parihar
Thalaivaasal Vijay

The series explores the origins of key characters in the Citadel universe, offering fans a deeper look into the espionage world introduced in the original show.

Premiere and Reception

Citadel: Honey Bunny premiered on November 6, 2024, on Amazon Prime Video. While the series garnered attention for its high-stakes action and gripping narrative, it ultimately fell short at the Critics Choice Awards 2025.

Conclusion

Despite the setbacks, Indian cinema and television continue to make waves on the global stage. The nominations for Citadel: Honey Bunny and All We Imagine As Light highlight the growing influence of Indian storytelling in international awards circuits. While this year may not have resulted in wins, these projects have successfully showcased India's talent and potential to a worldwide audience.

With promising projects lined up for the future, Indian filmmakers and actors are sure to bounce back stronger, setting new benchmarks in global entertainment.