As Chandu Champion completes two years since its release, the film continues to be celebrated for bringing the inspiring story of India's first Paralympic gold medallist, Murlikant Petkar, to audiences across the country. Directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the sports drama starring Kartik Aaryan earned widespread appreciation for its powerful storytelling and the actor's transformative performance. The film also marked a significant milestone in Kartik's career, earning him his first Filmfare Best Actor (Critics) award.
In a recent interview marking the two-year anniversary of Chandu Champion, Murlikant Petkar reflected on the film's impact and praised Kartik Aaryan's dedication. He said, "The film didn’t just tell my story—it gave it a much larger voice and reached people across generations." He further added, "Earlier, very few people knew about my journey or about India’s Paralympic history, but today, many individuals come up to me sharing how the film inspired them or changed their perspective on resilience and determination."
Petkar also spoke about the change the film has brought in the way people view para-athletes. According to him, "Earlier, para-athletes were often seen through a lens of sympathy. Today, I see a gradual shift towards respect and admiration. People are beginning to recognise para-athletes as high-performance sportspersons who compete with the same level of dedication and courage as any other athlete."
The decorated athlete reserved special praise for Kartik Aaryan's portrayal of his life and said, "Kartik Aaryan deserves the National Award for his hard work and dedication." Speaking about the actor's commitment to the role, he added, "It was not just an actor playing a role—he truly immersed himself in the character and treated my story with great respect."
Petkar further applauded Kartik for capturing the emotional depth of his journey on screen. He said, "He didn’t present it as just a story of achievements—he showed the struggles, the self-doubt, the anger, and the determination that were very much a part of my life." He concluded by saying, "What touched me the most was the sincerity with which he approached the role." Two years later, Chandu Champion continues to leave a lasting impact, both for its portrayal of an extraordinary sporting journey and for bringing greater recognition to para-sports in India.
Image Source-Google