72nd National Film Awards: Kartik Aaryan wins Best Actor for Chandu Champion
Synopsis
A self-described 'mumma's boy from Gwalior,' Kartik Aaryan just claimed Bollywood's most coveted acting honour — the National Award for Best Actor — for his portrayal of Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in 'Chandu Champion.' His decision to dedicate the win to every Paralympian in the country turns a personal milestone into a statement of purpose.
Key Takeaways
Kartik Aaryan won the National Award for Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards for his role in 'Chandu Champion' .
He shared the award with Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty .
The honour was conferred by President Droupadi Murmu at the awards ceremony.
Aaryan played real-life Paralympic Gold Champion Murlikant Petkar , India's first Paralympic gold medallist, in the biopic.
He dedicated the award to every Paralympian in the country and to 'everyone who dares to dream the impossible.'
Actor Kartik Aaryan has been conferred the National Award for Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards, received from President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony that moved the Mumbai-based star to share the honour with every Paralympian in the country. Aaryan won for his portrayal of India's first Paralympic Gold Champion, Murlikant Petkar, in the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion', sharing the award with Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty.
Kartik Aaryan's Emotional Response
On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, Aaryan took to his Instagram to share a video of the moment he was conferred the honour, alongside a heartfelt note tracing his journey. In his own words, he reflected on 'that mumma's boy from Gwalior who dared to dream of becoming an actor from an environment, where people laugh at such dreams.' He described finally living the moment as 'still numb with excitement and nervousness.'
Crediting his directors, Aaryan wrote: 'I will always be grateful and indebted to Kabir sir and Sajid sir for trusting me with the responsibility of playing India's first Paralympic Gold Champion — Murlikant Petkar sir — on the big screen.' The actor also dedicated a memorable line from the film: 'Chandu Nahi, Champiyon hai Main.'
A Journey of Grit and Belief
Aaryan described the road to the award as 'extremely painful, but the result is as sweet as rasmalai.' He credited his parents' unconditional love and blessings, his friends' encouragement at moments when hope waned, and a team that worked 'tirelessly' to support him. He called his belief in himself 'the only constant companion' through the long journey.
Notably, the win caps a transformative chapter for Aaryan, who began his career as a self-made outsider in the Hindi film industry. His identification with the real-life Petkar — another underdog who defied the odds — lent the biopic an authenticity that resonated with the National Awards jury.
Sharing the Honour with Paralympians
In a gesture underscoring the film's deeper purpose, Aaryan stated: '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.' He also extended his gratitude to the jury, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and President Murmu.
The Award and Its Significance
The Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards is jointly shared between Aaryan and Mammootty, reflecting the jury's recognition of outstanding performances across Indian cinema. 'Chandu Champion' is a sports biopic centred on Murlikant Petkar, who won India's first-ever Paralympic gold medal at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics in swimming — a story of resilience that clearly resonated beyond entertainment. Aaryan closed his note by saying, 'I would like to believe and say that this is just the beginning of many more milestones to come.'
Point of View
' a film about a forgotten Paralympian, over glossier productions signals that the jury is increasingly drawn to films where the personal and the patriotic intersect authentically. Aaryan's outsider-to-National-Award arc also challenges the persistent industry narrative that only cinema from the south or the art-house circuit produces performances worthy of national recognition. Whether this translates into more such biopics being greenlit — and more Paralympians being brought to mainstream screens — is the question the industry should now be asking.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards?
Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards for his performance in the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion.' He shared the award with Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty.
Which film did Kartik Aaryan win the National Award for?
Kartik Aaryan won the National Award for Best Actor for 'Chandu Champion,' a sports biopic in which he portrayed Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic Gold Champion. The film chronicles Petkar's journey to winning gold at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics.
Who presented the National Award to Kartik Aaryan?
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Award for Best Actor on Kartik Aaryan at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony. Aaryan shared a video of the moment on his Instagram on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
Who is Murlikant Petkar, the character Kartik Aaryan played?
Murlikant Petkar is India's first Paralympic Gold medallist, who won gold in swimming at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics. 'Chandu Champion' is a biopic that brings his extraordinary story to mainstream Indian cinema.
Did Kartik Aaryan win the National Award alone?
No, Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards with Mammootty, who is a celebrated icon of Malayalam cinema. Joint Best Actor awards are not uncommon at the National Film Awards when the jury recognises outstanding performances across different language films.
