Kartik Aaryan visits Statue of Unity ahead of National Film Awards
Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has arrived in Kevadia, Gujarat, for the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony. On Monday he shared Instagram pictures from the Statue of Unity and of a meal spread including thepla, writing "A legacy larger than life". He receives the Best Actor award for 'Chandu Champion', shared with Mammootty for 'Bramayugam'. President Droupadi Murmu will present the honours on September 22 in Kevadia, where Anant Nag receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Source
Telangana Today · read the original report ↗
Desk check · compared with the source
What the desk checked (4)
- Kartik Aaryan visited the Statue of Unity in Kevadia and shared pictures on Instagram — Attributed to the actor's own Instagram post, with quoted caption 'A legacy larger than life #StatueOfUnity'
- He will receive the National Award for Best Actor for 'Chandu Champion', sharing it with Mammootty for 'Bramayugam' — Stated in source as part of the 72nd National Film Awards announced on July 18, 2026; no separate official citation given
- The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is scheduled for September 22 in Kevadia, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting honours — Figure and date appear in source; no direct official attribution provided
- Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award; 'Article 370' won Best Feature Film and 'Kalki 2898 AD' Best Popular Feature Film — Appears in source as background from the July 18, 2026 announcement; unattributed to a named official
Analysts’ view opinion
For Kartik Aaryan, this looks like a career-pivot moment. An actor who built his following on youth-facing commercial hits is now collecting the National Award for Best Actor for playing Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in 'Chandu Champion' — a shift from 'star' to 'actor' in public perception. Sharing the honour with Malayalam veteran Mammootty adds weight to that recognition.
- The win is the latest example of how biopics and sports dramas have become the reliable route to critical validation for mainstream actors.
- Sharing the award with someone of Mammootty's standing boosts Kartik's industry credibility, while also inviting inevitable comparisons.
- Posting Statue of Unity and thepla pictures before the ceremony shows how today's stars convert award moments into their own digital content.
- Recognition came in a field of 400 feature entries, with 'Article 370' taking Best Feature Film and 'Kalki 2898 AD' Best Popular Feature Film — a snapshot of how varied the slate was.
- Moving the ceremony out of Delhi to Kevadia is a notable experiment in how the event is staged and covered.
What to watch — What Kartik signs after the September 22 ceremony — whether he leverages the national recognition into bigger commercial vehicles or leans further into content-led roles.
The story covers the award and the ceremony logistics only; it establishes nothing about 'Chandu Champion's' commercial performance or any impact on Kartik's future projects or fees.
Deep dive
Research brief · 8 facts · 4 dates · exam-readyThe brief
Context
The 72nd National Film Awards, India's top state honours for cinema, were announced on July 18, 2026 for films of 2024 and are being conferred at a ceremony on September 22 in Kevadia, Gujarat — a shift away from the traditional Delhi venue. Actor Kartik Aaryan, named Best Actor for the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion', arrived in Gujarat ahead of the ceremony and posted pictures from the Statue of Unity and of local food such as thepla. He shares the Best Actor honour with Malayalam star Mammootty for 'Bramayugam'. President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards, with veteran actor Anant Nag receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
Key facts
- Kartik Aaryan wins National Award for Best Actor for 'Chandu Champion', where he played Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar.
- The Best Actor award is shared with Malayalam actor Mammootty for 'Bramayugam'.
- The 72nd National Film Awards were announced on July 18, 2026, at a press conference, honouring the best of Indian cinema in 2024.
- The awards are presented by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC).
- Entries considered: 400 feature films, 161 non-feature films, 38 books and 24 critics' submissions.
- 'Article 370' won Best Feature Film; 'Kalki 2898 AD' won Best Popular Feature Film.
- The ceremony is on September 22 in Kevadia, Gujarat, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours.
- Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award; the edition marks a significant move beyond Delhi.
Timeline
- July 18, 202672nd National Film Awards winners announced at a press conference, for Indian cinema of 2024.
- Monday (ahead of ceremony)Kartik Aaryan lands in Gujarat, posts Statue of Unity pictures and a thepla meal spread on Instagram.
- September 21, 2026Report published on the actor's arrival in Kevadia (published 10:52 PM).
- September 2272nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat; President Droupadi Murmu to present honours.
Who has a stake
- Kartik Aaryan — Receives his first National Award for Best Actor for 'Chandu Champion', a career milestone.
- Mammootty — Malayalam cinema legend sharing the Best Actor honour for 'Bramayugam'.
- Anant Nag — Veteran actor being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest Indian film honour.
- President Droupadi Murmu — Presents the National Film Awards as head of state.
- NFDC India — Presenting body responsible for organising and conducting the awards.
- Kevadia, Gujarat — Hosts the ceremony for the first time as the event moves beyond Delhi, gaining national visibility.
Why it matters
The 72nd edition shifts the National Film Awards ceremony out of Delhi to Kevadia, home of the Statue of Unity, signalling an attempt to link national cultural honours with new symbolic venues. The shared Best Actor award to a Hindi and a Malayalam star, alongside wins for 'Article 370' and 'Kalki 2898 AD', reflects the growing pan-Indian spread of recognition in Indian cinema.
UPSC angle
Prelims pointers
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 72nd edition: veteran actor Anant Nag.
- 72nd National Film Awards presented by National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC).
- Awards announced July 18, 2026; ceremony September 22 at Kevadia, Gujarat.
- Best Feature Film: 'Article 370'; Best Popular Feature Film: 'Kalki 2898 AD'.
- Best Actor shared by Kartik Aaryan ('Chandu Champion') and Mammootty ('Bramayugam').
- 'Chandu Champion' is based on Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar.
Mains framing
The 72nd National Film Awards illustrate how state recognition of cinema functions both as cultural policy and as soft-power messaging. Administered through the National Film Development Corporation of India and conferred by the President, the awards this year drew 400 feature film entries, 161 non-feature entries, 38 books and 24 critics' submissions, indicating the breadth of Indian film production across languages. Two features stand out: the decision to hold the ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat, near the Statue of Unity, instead of Delhi, which links a national honour to a symbolic site and decentralises a hitherto capital-centric event; and the sharing of Best Actor between a Hindi-cinema actor (Kartik Aaryan for 'Chandu Champion', a biopic on Paralympian Murlikant Petkar) and a Malayalam veteran (Mammootty for 'Bramayugam'), which reflects recognition across regional industries. Awards to 'Article 370' and 'Kalki 2898 AD' also show the jury spanning political thrillers and big-budget science fiction. The way forward lies in sustaining transparent jury processes, supporting non-feature and regional cinema that lacks commercial reach, and ensuring that venue changes broaden public access rather than merely serving symbolism.
Key terms
- National Film Awards
- India's state film honours, presented by the President; the 72nd edition covers cinema of 2024.
- NFDC India
- National Film Development Corporation of India, the body presenting the 72nd National Film Awards.
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- Highest honour in Indian cinema for lifetime contribution; conferred this edition on Anant Nag.
- Statue of Unity
- Monument at Kevadia, Gujarat, visited by Kartik Aaryan ahead of the awards ceremony.
- Chandu Champion
- Sports biopic in which Kartik Aaryan played Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar.
- Bramayugam
- Malayalam film for which Mammootty shares the Best Actor National Award.
Practice questions
- Discuss the significance of holding the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony at Kevadia instead of Delhi. What does such decentralisation of national honours achieve?
- How do National Film Awards shape the recognition of regional cinema in India? Illustrate with the 72nd edition's awards.
- Biopics on sportspersons such as 'Chandu Champion' have grown in Indian cinema. Examine their role in popularising para-sports and athletes' achievements.
Grounded only in the source report — figures and dates are the source's, not inferred.