Which actor won the Best Actor award at the 64th National Film Awards in India?

Introduction / Context:
This question covers the National Film Awards, which are among the highest honours in Indian cinema and are presented by the Government of India. The Best Actor award at the 64th National Film Awards recognised a performance in a film based on a real life court case. Such questions test awareness of recent film history and the achievements of major actors beyond commercial awards like Filmfare, focusing on official recognition for acting excellence.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The award category is Best Actor at the 64th National Film Awards.
- Options include Manoj Joshi, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
- We must identify the actor who actually received this national honour.
- We assume the official list of winners declared by the Directorate of Film Festivals.

Concept / Approach:
The 64th National Film Awards recognised performances in films released in 2016. Akshay Kumar won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of a naval officer in the film Rustom, which was inspired by the famous K M Nanavati case. Other great actors like Aamir Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Manoj Joshi have delivered outstanding work, but they did not receive this particular award in that year. Remembering Akshay Kumar first National Award for acting, and the discussions it generated, helps to link his name with the 64th National Film Awards.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Rustom, starring Akshay Kumar, was widely discussed around the time of the 64th National Film Awards. Step 2: Remember that Akshay Kumar performance as a naval officer earned him the Best Actor award at that edition of the National Awards. Step 3: Look at the options and identify Akshay Kumar as the actor associated with this win. Step 4: Eliminate the other actors because none of them received the Best Actor award at the 64th National Film Awards.

Verification / Alternative check:
Checking the official winners list confirms that at the 64th National Film Awards, Akshay Kumar was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actor for Rustom. This fact was widely reported in national media with many articles highlighting it as a landmark in his career. While actors like Aamir Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui have been associated with National Awards at other times, they are not linked to this specific edition. This cross verification confirms that Akshay Kumar is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Manoj Joshi is a respected character actor, but he did not win the Best Actor award at the 64th National Film Awards.
Aamir Khan has delivered many award worthy performances, but he was not selected as Best Actor at this specific edition of the National Awards.
Manoj Bajpayee is known for powerful roles and has received National Awards, but he did not receive the Best Actor trophy at the 64th ceremony.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui is also a critically acclaimed actor, yet he did not win Best Actor at the 64th National Film Awards.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes assume that Aamir Khan or Nawazuddin Siddiqui must be the answer because of their strong association with quality cinema. Another pitfall is to confuse the National Film Awards with various critics awards or to remember only the controversies around the decision and not the final winner. Some also mix up different years of the National Awards. To prevent these mistakes, link Akshay Kumar Best Actor National Award clearly with Rustom and the 64th edition of the awards in your memory map.

Final Answer:
The Best Actor award at the 64th National Film Awards was won by Akshay Kumar.