<p>Zinc (Zn) deficiency in rice grains is a major global nutritional concern, particularly in regions where rice is a main dietary source. Despite its importance, Zn accumulation in rice grains remains low due to inefficient uptake and translocation. There is a lack of clarity about role of phytohormones such as gibberellic acid (GA) and cytokinin on uptake, transport and accumulation of Zn in grains. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the potential of phytohormones to enhance Zn biofortification and nutrient content in rice.&#xa0;A two-year field study was conducted during rice-growing seasons of 2022 and 2023 under split-split plot design with three replications. Two rice varieties (SAVA 127 and PR 126) were tested under three Zn application methods: control (Zn0), soil application (ZnS) and soil + foliar application (Zn S + F) coupled with four phytohormones levels: 0, 10 mg L^− 1 GA, 10 mg L^− 1 cytokinin and 5 mg L^− 1 each of GA + cytokinin.&#xa0;Combined use of Zn along with foliar spray of 10 mg L^− 1 cytokinin significantly improved Zn content in both intact (42.7%) and dehusked (48.6%) grains, as well as in straw (21.6%) as compared to control. This combination also enhanced nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) accumulation in both grains and straw, along with a 65.6% increase in grain protein content than control. The hybrid variety SAVA 127 consistently outperformed the inbred PR 126 in terms of nutrient uptake and accumulation.&#xa0;Overall, soil + foliar application of Zn combined with spray of 10 mg L^− 1 of cytokinin was found to be an efficient strategy to improve nutritional quality of rice crop. This approach offers scalable solution to improve dietary Zn intake, especially in rice-dependent regions. Future studies should explore the molecular mechanisms underlying hormone-mediated Zn uptake, transport and assess the long-term field applicability across diverse agroclimatic zones.</p>