Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has arrived in Gujarat ahead of the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony, where he will receive the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in the sports biopic Chandu Champion.
The actor shared glimpses of his visit to Kevadia on Instagram on Monday, including photographs and videos from the Statue of Unity.
In one of the pictures, Kartik posed near the iconic monument, while another showed a spread featuring thepla and other local delicacies. Sharing the pictures, he wrote, “A legacy larger than life #StatueOfUnity”. He later added in the comments, “Thepla was good”.
Fans congratulated the actor on his National Award recognition, with several followers expressing excitement ahead of the ceremony.
Kartik is being honoured for his portrayal of Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in Chandu Champion. He shares the Best Actor honour with Malayalam cinema veteran Mammootty, who has been recognised for his performance in Bramayugam.
The 72nd National Film Awards, presented by the National Film Development Corporation of India, were announced on July 18, 2026, recognising achievements in Indian cinema during 2024. The feature film category received 400 entries, while 161 films were submitted in the non-feature category. There were also 38 book entries and 24 submissions in the critics’ category.
Article 370 was named Best Feature Film, while Kalki 2898 AD won the award for Best Popular Feature Film.
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on September 22 in Kevadia, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours. Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The ceremony’s staging in Kevadia marks a significant departure from the traditional venue in Delhi.