# Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty share Best Actor at National Film Awards

2026-09-22T06:16:57+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Kartik Aaryan and Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty have shared the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony. The awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu on 22 September in Kevadia, Gujarat. Aaryan won for his portrayal of Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion', while Mammootty was recognised for his performance in the period folk-horror film 'Bramayugam'. Before the ceremony, Aaryan visited the Statue of Unity in Kevadia and posted pictures on Instagram, calling it a legacy larger than life. He also sampled local thepla, commenting that it was good. Aaryan's parents joined him for the occasion. The actor had earlier described the win as a dream come true. The National Film Development Corporation of India announced the awards in July. Veteran actor Anant Nag received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the ceremony.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All four sources report the 72nd National Film Awards in Kevadia, with Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty sharing the Best Actor prize. Telanganatoday and Indiatoday lead with Aaryan's visit to the Statue of Unity and his thepla meal, framing the story as a celebrity travelogue. IndiaTV and DeccanHerald skip those details entirely and go straight to the award announcement. The unity around the award itself is complete, but the choice to front-load or omit the sightseeing and food anecdote separates the lifestyle-style coverage from the hard-news versions. No source questions the award's merit, leaving the reader to note only the editorial packaging rather than any dispute in facts. The ceremony on 22 September in Kevadia, with President Murmu presenting, is the concrete anchor across all four.

## Coverage

- telanganatoday.com (neutral report) <https://telanganatoday.com/kartik-aaryan-visits-statue-of-unity-ahead-of-national-film-awards>
  Leads with Aaryan's sightseeing and meal, softens award news as secondary
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/kartik-aaryan-visits-statue-of-unity-enjoys-theplas-ahead-of-national-film-awards-3000008-2026-09-22?utm_source=rss>
  Leads with Aaryan's visit and thepla, positions award as background detail
- indiatvnews.com (neutral report) <https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/news/kartik-aaryan-and-mammootty-share-best-actor-award-at-72nd-national-film-awards-2026-09-22-1054954>
  Straight award announcement, no travel or food details at all
- deccanherald.com (neutral report) <https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/dream-come-true-kartik-aaryan-bags-best-actor-award-for-chandu-champion-at-national-film-awards-4155420>
  Award-focused lead, omits Aaryan's travel and meal entirely

Tags: Chandu Champion, Kartik Aaryan, Kevadia, National Film Awards, Statue of Unity
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kartik-aaryan-in-gujarat-for-national-award-visits-statue-of-unity/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kartik-aaryan-in-gujarat-for-national-award-visits-statue-of-unity/#story-in-brief