If it was any consolation for Sonam, her brother Harshvardhan Kapoor won the best debutant award along with her Neerja co-star Jim Sarbh, reports Subhash K Jha.

The good news for director Ram Madhvani is that he won the best director award at the Screen awards for the widely appreciated Neerja.

The bad news is that he lost the best film award to Pink.

Even worse for Ram was that Sonam Kapoor -- considered the strongest contender for best actress this year for her fine performance as real-life hero Neerja Bhanot -- lost the award to Alia Bhatt.

Alia, truly the star of the moment, walked home with the best actress award for giving two diametrically opposite performances in Udta Punjab and Dear Zindagi.

Ram met Sonam after the awards were announced and says she was sorely disappointed.

"We were all very happy because the film has been recognised. I was honoured to be selected for best director, though I felt Shakun Batra's direction for Kapoor & Sons was also worthy of recognition," Ram said.

Jim Sarbh won the best debutant award, and we breathed a collective sigh of joyous relief when Shabanaji won the best supporting actress award (for Neerja)," the director added.

Sonam's exclusion from the circle of joy was a dampner for the Neerja team. If it was any consolation for Sonam, her brother Harshvardhan Kapoor won the best debutant award along with her Neerja co-star Jim Sarbh.

Alia, meanwhile, is on an unprecedented high.

Speaking about her award and in view of the awards season ahead, Alia had said, 'I'd be lying if I said I am not looking forward to the awards. I know there are others with an equally strong chance of winning. May the best woman win.'