Critics Choice Awards 2025: ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ Loses To ‘Squid Games’

February 8, 2025: At the 30th Critics Choice Awards, both Citadel: Honey Bunny and All We Imagine As Light faced tough competition and ultimately fell short in their respective categories. The action-packed Indian series Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, lost out to South Korea’s Squid Game in the Best Foreign Language Series category.

The series, directed by Raj & DK, gained significant attention in India, especially after winning Best Series (Critics) and Best Screenplay awards at the Filmfare OTT Awards 2024. Citadel: Honey Bunny is an Indian spin-off of the popular American series Citadel, which starred Priyanka Chopra. The show delves into the world of espionage and features intense action sequences, with Dhawan and Prabhu’s chemistry becoming a key highlight. Despite not securing the Critics Choice win, the series continues to be well-received by audiences.

The Best Foreign Language Series category at the Critics Choice Awards also featured other contenders, such as Acapulco, La Maquina, The Law According to Lidia Poet, My Brilliant Friend, Pachinko, and Senna, with Squid Game ultimately claiming the top spot for its immense global success.

In another blow for Indian cinema, All We Imagine As Light, directed by Payal Kapadia, also fell short in the Best Foreign Film category. The film, which made history as the first Indian film to win the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, lost to Emilia Perez, a musical crime drama. Despite the loss, All We Imagine As Light had already received widespread acclaim for its poignant storytelling and strong performances, starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam.

The film, which explores the emotional journey of a troubled nurse and her young roommate confronting their desires during a beach town getaway, was a significant milestone for Indian cinema on the international stage. However, Emilia Perez proved to be the stronger contender in this prestigious category at the Critics Choice Awards.

While both Citadel: Honey Bunny and All We Imagine As Light didn’t win at the Critics Choice Awards, their recognition highlights India’s growing influence in global entertainment. As both projects continue to garner attention, they remain important milestones for Indian talent in the international spotlight.