Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor award at the 72nd [1] National Film Awards on Saturday for his performance in "Chandu Champion".
The recognition marks a significant career milestone for Aaryan, validating his transition into heavyweight dramatic roles. The award highlights the industry's shift toward honoring biopics that celebrate India's sporting history, and resilience.
Aaryan was recognized for his portrayal of Murlikant Petkar, India's first Paralympic gold-medallist. The performance required a rigorous physical and emotional transformation to depict Petkar's journey through adversity. Murlikant Petkar said, "He deserves it."
Director Kabir Khan, who helmed the sports drama, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the production. "This is a win for the entire team," Khan said.
The ceremony, held in New Delhi, featured several high-profile honors. While reports vary on the exact distribution of the top acting honors, some sources indicate Aaryan shared the Best Actor award with Mammootty [2] for the film "Bramayugam". Other reports listed Aaryan alongside Yami Gautam as winners in the acting categories [1].
The 72nd [1] edition of the awards continues to be one of the most prestigious honors in Indian cinema, focusing on artistic excellence across various languages, and genres. "Chandu Champion" has been praised for its dedication to historical accuracy and its portrayal of the Paralympic spirit.
“"He deserves it."”
Aaryan's victory signals a shift in the National Film Awards' recognition of commercial stars who pivot to biographical dramas. By honoring a portrayal of a Paralympic athlete, the awards committee emphasizes the intersection of sports, disability rights, and national identity in contemporary Indian cinema.
