Kartik Aryan’s Best Actor award draws admiration from his real‑life counterpart

The celebration around Kartik Aryan’s Best Actor win at the National Film Awards was amplified by a special tribute from the man whose life inspired the role. Murli Kanta Petkar, who clinched a gold medal for India in the Paralympic Games, posted a congratulatory message that emphasized Aryan’s rigorous preparation—ranging from weight training to mastering sprint swimming—required to convincingly portray Petkar’s multiple life stages. Petkar also praised the entire production crew, noting that Kabir Khan’s direction and the collective effort of the cast, including Vijay Raj, Rajpal Yadav, and Bhagyeshri, helped translate a story of resilience into a cinematic experience.