Like every year, this year also has an interesting mix of contenders for these trophies. Leading the nominations are two of the most popular actors for over 20 years now — Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. While Salman has been nominated for Ready and Bodyguard, two of the biggest grossers of 2011, SRK has secured a place on the list due to massive openings of Ra.One and Don 2. Among the women actors, it is Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif fighting it out for the top spot. Katrina’s girl-next-door roles in Mere Brother Ki Dulhann and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) was loved by her fans, while Kareena had the audience mesmerised with her Chammak Challo moves in Ra.One and Desi Beats in Bodyguard.

Other popular actors in the race for the Best Actor (Male) award are action heroes Akshay Kumar (Desi Boyz) and Ajay Devgn (Singham). Akshay’s partner in Desi Boyz, John Abraham has also secured a nomination and so has Hrithik Roshan, who got his mojo back with ZNMD. Keeping them company in the female category are Vidya Balan, who made natural oomph popular with The Dirty Picture, Priyanka Chopra whose acrobatic moves in Don 2 won applause and Kangna Ranaut whose OTT (Over the Top) style of acting in Tanu Weds Manu stood out.

Among the younger crop of actors, the three most popular names — Ranbir Kapoor (Rockstar), Imran Khan (Delhi Belly) and Shahid Kapoor (Mausam) — are likely to give the Khans a tough fight. R Madhavan has bagged a nomination for his role in Tanu Weds Manu and Farhan Akhtar for his funny-yet-serious act in ZNMD.

The younger actresses who feature in the popular award nominee list are Anushka Sharma for Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, Asin for Ready, Deepika Padukone for Desi Boyz, Sonam Kapoor for Mausam and Chitrangada Singh for Yeh Saali Zindagi.