The National Film Awards were first presented in the year 1954. Since 1973, the award ceremonies have been administrated by the Indian government’s ‘Directorate of Film Festivals’. The Government of India introduced the award ceremony to honor and encourage the films which are directed across India and also speak about Indian art and culture. A panel is appointed by the government to select the winning entry. The ‘Best Actress Award’ is one of the sub-categories of Silver Lotus Award and was introduced in 1968. The inaugural award presented to Nargis Dutt for her her role as Varuna in the film ‘Raat Aur Din’. The film is about a married woman who suffers from multiple personality disorder. The film was directed by Satyen Bose in 1967. Shabana Azmi has been the winner of the category many times.

The Winners For Silver Lotus Best Actress Award Are:

Year
Actress
Film
Language
2009
Priyanka Chopra
Fashion
Hindi
2008
Umashree
Gulabi Talkies
Kannada
2007
Priyamani
Paruthi Veeran
Tamil
2006
Sarika
Parzania
English
2005
Tara
Hasina
Kannada
2004
Meera Jasmine
Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam, Perumazhakkalam
Malayalam
2003
Konkona Sen Sharma
Mr. and Mrs. Iyer
English
2002
Tabu
Chandni Bar
Hindi
2002
Shobhana
Mitr, My Friend
English
2001
Raveena Tandon
Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence
Hindi
2000
Kirron Kher
Bariwali
Bengali
1999
Shabana Azmi
Godmother
Hindi
1998
Indrani Haldar Rituparna Sengupta
Dahan
Bengali
1997
Tabu
Maachis
Hindi
1996
Seema Biswas
Bandit Queen
Hindi
1995
Debashree Roy
Unishe April
Bengali
1994
Shobhana
Manichithrathazhu
Malayalam
1993
Dimple Kapadia
Rudaali
Hindi
1992
Moyola Goswami
Firingoti
Assamese
1991
Vijayashanti
Karthavyam
Telugu
1990
Sreelekha Mukherji
Parshuramer Kuthar
Bengali
1989
Archana
Daasi
Telugu
1988
Archana
Veedu
Tamil
1987
Monisha Unni
Nakhashathangal
Malayalam
1986
Suhasini
Sindhu Bhairavi
Tamil
1985
Shabana Azmi
Paar
Hindi
1984
Shabana Azmi
Khandhar
Hindi
1983
Shabana Azmi
Arth
Hindi
1982
Rekha
Umrao Jaan
Urdu
1981
Smita Patil
Chakra
Hindi
1980
Shobha
Pasi
Tamil
1979
Sharada
Nimajjanam
Telugu
1978
Smita Patil
Bhumika
Hindi
1977
Laxmi
Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal
Tamil
1976
Sharmila Tagore
Mausam
Hindi
1975
Shabana Azmi
Ankur
Hindi
1974
Nandini Bhaktavatsala
Kaadu
Kannada
1973
Sharada
Swayamvaram
Malayalam
1972
Waheeda Rehman
Reshma Aur Shera
Hindi
1971
Rehana Sultan
Dastak
Hindi
1970
Madhabi Mukherjee
Dibratrir Kabya
Bengali
1969
Sharada
Thulabharam
Malayalam
1968
Nargis Dutt
Raat Aur Din
Hindi