Kartik Aaryan wins National Award for Chandu Champion, shares mother's emotional reaction
Synopsis
Kartik Aaryan's scream of joy and his mother's kiss on the cheek — the moment his National Award win was announced — is now the most-shared clip in Bollywood this week. The Best Actor honour for 'Chandu Champion', shared with Mammootty, is Kartik's first national recognition and a clear signal that his career has crossed into a new register.
Key Takeaways
Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 72nd National Film Awards for 'Chandu Champion' .
The award was jointly shared with Malayalam legend Mammootty for 'Bramayugam' .
The winners were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi on 18 July 2025 .
Kartik shared an emotional video on Instagram showing his family's live reaction, including his mother kissing him on the cheek. 'Chandu Champion' is based on the life of Murlikant Petkar , India's first Paralympic gold medalist , and released on 14 June 2024 .
Kartik Aaryan has shared a deeply personal video on Instagram capturing the moment his name was announced as a joint winner of the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards — and the raw, unscripted reaction of his family made the clip unmissable. The video, posted on 19 July 2025, shows the actor watching the live announcement alongside his parents before erupting in a scream of joy.
The Announcement Moment
As the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting declared Kartik Aaryan a joint winner of the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for his performance in 'Chandu Champion', the actor's reaction was immediate and visceral. He broke into a loud cheer before pulling his parents into a tight embrace. His mother planted a kiss on his cheek — a quiet, tender moment that stood in contrast to the jubilation around it.
In the caption accompanying the video, Kartik wrote: 'Still processing... Some moments are simply bigger than words, and this is one of them. A dream I've carried for years has finally come true. Forever humbled, forever grateful Best Actor National Award #ChanduChampion.'
A Joint Win With a Malayalam Legend
The Best Actor honour was shared with Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty, who won for his performance in 'Bramayugam'. The 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on 18 July 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The dual recognition underscored the breadth of performance celebrated across Indian cinema this cycle.
About Chandu Champion
'Chandu Champion' is a biographical sports drama based on the life of Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic gold medalist. To portray Petkar's extraordinary journey with authenticity, Kartik underwent a rigorous physical transformation over an extended preparation period. The film released in theatres worldwide on 14 June 2024. Notably, this is Kartik's first National Award, arriving after years of commercial success in titles such as 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'.
What the Win Signals
The recognition marks a significant shift in how the industry and award bodies perceive Kartik Aaryan — from a reliable box-office draw to an actor capable of carrying serious, physically demanding biographical cinema. The National Award, India's most prestigious state honour for films, carries considerably more institutional weight than industry awards. For 'Chandu Champion' director Kabir Khan and the production, the win also validates the creative risk of building a major film around a relatively lesser-known sporting legend. How Kartik channels this recognition into his next slate of projects will be closely watched.
Point of View
And the National Award retroactively repositions it as a landmark film. The joint win with Mammootty is also telling: it places Kartik in conversation with one of Indian cinema's most decorated actors, a juxtaposition that would have seemed unlikely three years ago. Whether Bollywood's award ecosystem will follow the National jury's lead — or continue to treat commercial and serious cinema as separate categories — remains an open question.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film did Kartik Aaryan win the National Award for?
Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 72nd National Film Awards for his performance in 'Chandu Champion', a biographical sports drama based on the life of Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic gold medalist.
Who jointly won the Best Actor award with Kartik Aaryan?
The Best Actor honour was jointly awarded to Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty for his performance in 'Bramayugam' and Kartik Aaryan for 'Chandu Champion' at the 72nd National Film Awards.
When were the 72nd National Film Awards announced?
The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on 18 July 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi.
What did Kartik Aaryan post on Instagram after winning the National Award?
Kartik Aaryan posted a video on Instagram showing the live moment his name was announced, capturing his scream of joy and emotional hugs with his parents. His caption read: 'Still processing... A dream I've carried for years has finally come true. Forever humbled, forever grateful.'
Who is Murlikant Petkar, the subject of Chandu Champion?
Murlikant Petkar is India's first Paralympic gold medalist, whose inspiring life story forms the basis of 'Chandu Champion'. The film, released on 14 June 2024, follows his journey and required Kartik Aaryan to undergo a significant physical transformation.
