Kartik Aaryan Wins National Award; Dedicates Trophy to India’s Paralympians

Kartik Aaryan celebrated a historic milestone on Tuesday when he received the National Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Murlikant Petkar in the biopic Chandu Champion. The ceremony took place in Gujarat, where the actor was presented with the Rajat Kamal and a certificate by President Draupadi Murmu. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Aaryan reflected on the moment, describing it as “speechless” and “special.” He recalled his journey from a small town in Gwalior, where people often laughed at his dreams of acting, to standing on the award stage.

In his caption, the actor expressed deep gratitude to his mentors, Kabir Khan and Sajid Khan, for entrusting him with the role of India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. He described the preparation as “painful” yet ultimately “sweet as rasmalai,” and highlighted the support of his family, friends, and crew as essential to his success. Aaryan also dedicated the trophy to all Paralympians in the country, saying, “I would love to share my biggest honour with every Paralympian in the country and with everyone who dares to dream the impossible and never gives up!”

Aaryan’s achievement came alongside fellow awardee Mammootty, who won the same category for his performance in Bramayugam. Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, tells the inspiring story of Petkar’s determination and triumph in freestyle swimming. The film, released in 2024, required Aaryan to undergo significant physical transformation and intensive training to authentically portray the athlete.

Expressing humility and excitement, Aaryan concluded his post with a promise that this is “just the beginning” of many more milestones. He thanked the jury, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and the president for the honor, ending with a spirited “गणपति बप्पा मोरया.” The National Film Awards 2026 highlighted several standout performances, but Aaryan’s win marked a significant moment for Indian cinema and the representation of Paralympic athletes on screen.