Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who portrayed India’s first Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar in the biopic Chandu Champion, attended the prestigious Arjuna Award ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event honored Mr. Petkar with the Arjuna Lifetime Achievement Award, 52 years after his historic gold medal win. Kartik penned an emotional note to commemorate the occasion, describing it as a surreal and proud moment.
Murlikant Petkar received the Lifetime Achievement Award months after the release of Chandu Champion, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala’s Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and directed by Kabir Khan. The film, which was released in June 2024, chronicles Mr. Petkar’s incredible life journey. Kartik Aaryan, along with Kabir Khan, attended the ceremony to witness the momentous occasion. He posed for a picture with Mr. Petkar and India’s President, Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, capturing the historic moment.
Kartik Aaryan’s Emotional Tribute
Kartik Aaryan shared a video of Mr. Petkar receiving the award and expressed his admiration on social media. He wrote:
“From living your incredible life on the big screen to witnessing you receive the Arjuna Lifetime Achievement Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan today, it felt surreal. Every moment was like a dream. Now our film #ChanduChampion seems to have found its perfect ending (it started with you fighting for the Arjuna Award), but knowing you, an unstoppable champion, this can’t be the climax. Keep inspiring, Sir. Feeling so proud to be present in this moment framed in history with you and the Honourable President of India. Salute to you and congratulations to all the Arjuna awardees.”
Murlikant Petkar’s Gratitude
Mr. Petkar expressed his heartfelt thanks to the makers of Chandu Champion for bringing his story to life. In a statement, he said:
“I am deeply moved and thankful to receive the Arjuna Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition is not only a personal accomplishment but also a tribute to the collective support and belief of many remarkable individuals. I want to extend my sincere thanks to Sajid Nadiadwala ji for believing in my story and dedicating his trust and resources to bringing it to the screen through Chandu Champion. His constant support has made all the difference. I would also like to acknowledge Kabir Khan for authentically directing my journey on screen, and Kartik for his flawless portrayal of my story. This achievement belongs as much to them as it does to me. I am grateful to the entire Chandu Champion team for inspiring countless people with my story.”
Kartik’s Joyful Announcement
Earlier, on January 2, Kartik celebrated Mr. Petkar’s achievement with a heartfelt message:
“Huge Huge Huge Congratulations to Sri Murlikant Petkar Ji. Our film, #ChanduChampion, begins with the scene of you fighting for the Arjuna Award, and now seeing you get the country’s highest sports honor… the journey feels complete. Your win feels personal, Sir. Congratulations to the real Champion! Words cannot amply express this emotion. You are finally getting your due, and we are all so proud of you.”
This heartwarming celebration of a true champion has inspired countless fans and highlighted the enduring legacy of Murlikant Petkar.
