Kartik Aaryan wins National Award for Best Actor for Chandu Champion
Synopsis
Kartik Aaryan's National Award for Best Actor is a watershed moment — not just for the actor, but for the kind of cinema being rewarded. His portrayal of Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion was widely considered a career-best, and director Kabir Khan's 'walk like a tiger' message captures exactly the tone: this win is being framed as a beginning, not a peak.
Key Takeaways
Kartik Aaryan received the National Award for Best Actor on 22 September for his performance in Chandu Champion .
He played Murlikant Petkar , India's first Paralympic Gold medallist, in the Kabir Khan -directed biographical film.
Director Kabir Khan shared a celebratory social media post urging Aaryan to 'always walk like a tiger.' Aaryan dedicated the honour to his parents, friends, his team, and every Paralympian in the country.
The actor described himself as a 'mumma's boy from Gwalior ' who dared to dream, calling the award 'the dream of every actor in the country.'
Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan received the National Award for Best Actor on 22 September for his portrayal of India's first Paralympic Gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in the biographical film Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan. The honour marks the most significant recognition of Aaryan's career to date.
Kabir Khan's Message to His Champion
Director Kabir Khan took to social media to celebrate the win, sharing a photograph with the actor alongside a heartfelt note. 'Humesha Sher ki chaal Chalna mere champion... with that unmistakable laugh of yours…' Khan wrote, in a message that resonated widely among fans and the film fraternity.
Kartik Aaryan's Emotional Tribute
Visibly overwhelmed, Aaryan shared a lengthy note on social media dedicating the award to his roots and his support system. 'Looking back affectionately with a smile at that mumma's boy from Gwalior who dared to dream of becoming an actor from an environment, Finally, I witnessed and lived the moment... still numb with excitement and nervousness... A dream of a small town boy...the dream of every actor in the country...The National Award for Best Actor — Chandu Nahi, Champion hai Main,' he wrote.
Aaryan also expressed deep gratitude toward his collaborators. '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 journey was extremely painful, but the result is as sweet as rasmalai! I feel humbled and emotional at the same time,' he added.
The Journey Behind the Role
Chandu Champion required Aaryan to undergo a physically and emotionally demanding transformation to embody Petkar, who overcame a near-fatal injury sustained during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War to win gold at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics. The film, produced under the banner of Sajid Nadiadwala, drew widespread critical praise for its authentic recreation of Petkar's story and Aaryan's committed performance.
Dedication to Paralympians and Fellow Dreamers
In his note, Aaryan broadened the dedication well beyond the film industry. '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 wrote. He also thanked the respected Jury, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and President of India for the recognition, signing off with 'Ganpati Bappa Morya.' Notably, this win places Aaryan among an elite group of actors honoured at the National Awards — India's highest state recognition for cinema — underscoring a career arc that has evolved steadily from commercial entertainer to serious performer. All eyes will now be on his upcoming slate to see whether this moment signals a lasting creative pivot.
Point of View
Yet it is a physically gruelling biographical drama about a forgotten sporting hero that earned him the country's highest film honour. That Chandu Champion — a story about a Paralympic champion most audiences didn't know — could deliver both box-office returns and critical validation says as much about changing audience appetite as it does about the actor. The question now is whether this becomes a genuine inflection point in his choices, or a celebrated exception in an otherwise populist filmography.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film won Kartik Aaryan the National Award for Best Actor?
Kartik Aaryan won the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan, in which he portrayed India's first Paralympic Gold medallist Murlikant Petkar.
Who is Murlikant Petkar, the person Kartik Aaryan played in Chandu Champion?
Murlikant Petkar is India's first Paralympic Gold medallist, who overcame a near-fatal bullet injury suffered during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War to win gold at the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics. Chandu Champion tells his life story on the big screen.
What did director Kabir Khan say after Kartik Aaryan won the National Award?
Kabir Khan shared a photo with Kartik Aaryan on social media and wrote: 'Humesha Sher ki chaal Chalna mere champion... with that unmistakable laugh of yours…', urging the actor to always walk like a tiger.
How did Kartik Aaryan react to winning the National Award?
Kartik Aaryan shared an emotional note on social media, describing himself as a small-town boy from Gwalior who dared to dream. He dedicated the award to his parents, friends, team, and every Paralympian in India.
Who produced Chandu Champion?
Chandu Champion was produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and directed by Kabir Khan. The film received wide critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of Murlikant Petkar's extraordinary life journey.
