Kartik Aaryan flies to London for 'Captain India' shoot with Shimit Amin
Synopsis
National Award winner Kartik Aaryan has touched down in London to begin shooting 'Captain India', a film reportedly inspired by India's real-life citizen evacuation missions and directed by 'Chak De! India' helmer Shimit Amin. After being the sole Bollywood actor at the President's Independence Day reception, Aaryan's profile — and the stakes around this film — have never been higher.
Key Takeaways
Kartik Aaryan has flown from Mumbai to London to begin shooting 'Captain India' .
The film is directed by Shimit Amin , known for 'Chak De!
India' , and produced by Bhushan Kumar (T-Series) and Baweja Studios . 'Captain India' reportedly draws on India's real-life overseas evacuation operations .
Aaryan won the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards for 'Chandu Champion' .
He was the only Bollywood actor invited to President Droupadi Murmu's 'At Home Reception' on 15 August at Rashtrapati Bhavan .
Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has offered fans a behind-the-scenes look at his journey to London, where he is set to begin shooting his highly anticipated film 'Captain India'. The actor shared a photo dump on Instagram on Friday, documenting his travel from Mumbai to the UK capital.
What Kartik Shared
The Instagram carousel features snapshots of airport lounges, the actor plugged into music, a close-up of the film's shooting script on his tablet, and his travel luggage. Aaryan captioned the post with the ICAO airport codes 'VABB to EGLL' — shorthand for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai to Heathrow Airport, London — a subtle nod to his aviation-themed project.
About 'Captain India'
'Captain India' reportedly draws inspiration from India's real-life evacuation operations to rescue citizens from conflict zones abroad. The film is directed by Shimit Amin, widely recognised for the landmark sports drama 'Chak De! India'. It is produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series and Baweja Studios, in association with Dopamine Studios, with S.B. Films handling production duties.
Kartik's Rising National Profile
The London departure comes on the heels of a landmark few months for the actor. In July, Kartik was among the distinguished guests invited by President Droupadi Murmu to the 'At Home Reception' at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 15 August, marking India's 80th Independence Day. He was notably the only Bollywood actor present at the high-profile gathering, which brought together national leaders, armed forces personnel, sportspersons, and notable achievers.
The invitation followed Aaryan's recognition at the 72nd National Film Awards, where he received the Best Actor honour for his performance in director Kabir Khan's sports drama 'Chandu Champion'. The actor had earlier shared a heartfelt family moment on social media when the National Award announcement was made in July.
What to Watch
With the London schedule now underway, 'Captain India' is shaping up as one of the more ambitious patriotic dramas in the pipeline. The combination of Aaryan's National Award momentum and Shimit Amin's track record with high-stakes, emotionally driven narratives makes this a project the industry will be watching closely.
Point of View
Patriotic cinema at a moment when his personal brand is at its strongest. Winning the National Award for 'Chandu Champion' and being the sole film personality at the President's Independence Day reception in the same year is a positioning that few actors achieve. The choice of Shimit Amin, who defined the genre with 'Chak De! India', suggests the producers are betting on craft over spectacle. Whether 'Captain India' can match that benchmark — and whether Aaryan can sustain this elevated profile into a second consecutive high-stakes release — is the real story here.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Captain India' about?
'Captain India' reportedly draws inspiration from India's real-life operations to evacuate its citizens from war-torn countries abroad. The film stars Kartik Aaryan and is directed by Shimit Amin of 'Chak De! India' fame.
Who is directing 'Captain India'?
The film is directed by Shimit Amin, best known for the 2007 sports drama 'Chak De! India'. It is produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series and Baweja Studios, in association with Dopamine Studios, with S.B. Films handling production.
Why was Kartik Aaryan invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Independence Day?
Kartik Aaryan was invited by President Droupadi Murmu to the 'At Home Reception' on 15 August at Rashtrapati Bhavan, held to mark India's 80th Independence Day. He was the only Bollywood actor at the event, an invitation that followed his Best Actor win at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Which film earned Kartik Aaryan the National Award?
Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards for his performance in 'Chandu Champion', directed by Kabir Khan. The announcement was made in July, and the actor shared the moment with his family on social media.
Where is 'Captain India' being shot?
The film's current shooting schedule is based in London, where Kartik Aaryan has travelled from Mumbai. He shared his journey on Instagram using the airport codes 'VABB to EGLL', referring to Mumbai and London Heathrow respectively.
