It was a night of intense competition at the Critics Choice Awards 2025, and despite high hopes, Varun Dhawan’s much-anticipated spy thriller Citadel: Honey Bunny failed to secure a win. The Hindi-language prequel to Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel lost the Best Foreign Language Series title to Netflix’s global sensation Squid Game.
Fans of the action-packed series, which also stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu, were left disappointed as the trophy slipped away. Citadel: Honey Bunny had been widely praised for its gripping storyline and high-stakes espionage, but it wasn’t enough to surpass the massive cultural impact of Squid Game.
Tough Competition in the Global Arena
The category featured an impressive lineup, including:
- Acapulco (Apple TV+)
- La Maquina (Hulu)
- The Law According to Lidia Poet (Netflix)
- My Brilliant Friend (HBO Max)
- Pachinko (Apple TV+)
- Senna (Netflix)
While Squid Game ultimately took the prize, the nomination of Citadel: Honey Bunny was a testament to India’s growing prominence in global entertainment.
A Setback for Indian Contenders
Adding to the night’s disappointments, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light also lost out in the Best Foreign Film category to Emilia Perez.
Congratulations to Squid Game, winner of the Critics Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Series. #CriticsChoice #CriticsChoiceAwards #SquidGame@eentertainment pic.twitter.com/QJrFbZPclK
— Critics Choice Awards (@CriticsChoice) February 8, 2025
Varun Dhawan’s Foray Into the Spy Universe
A prequel to Priyanka Chopra’s Citadel, Honey Bunny dives into the thrilling backstory of Nadia Sinh’s parents. With an ensemble cast featuring Kay Kay Menon, Simran, Sikandar Kher, Saqib Saleem, Soham Majumdar, Shivankit Singh Parihar, and Thalaivaasal Vijay, the show brought Bollywood-level action to the streaming space.
Though the Critics Choice Award remains elusive, Citadel: Honey Bunny has firmly positioned itself as a strong Indian contender in the world of international spy thrillers. Could future seasons turn the tide? Fans are certainly hopeful!
