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Kartik Aaryan Visits Statue of Unity Ahead of National Film Awards Ceremony
Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan posted Instagram photos from Kevadia, Gujarat, posing beside the Statue of Unity as he prepares to receive the National Award for Best Actor. The 72nd National Film Awards will be held on September 22 in Kevadia, marking a historic shift away from Delhi.
By Indrajeet Devulapally ·
What happened
Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan posted Instagram photos from Kevadia, Gujarat, posing beside the Statue of Unity as he prepares to receive the National Award for Best Actor. The 72nd National Film Awards will be held on September 22 in Kevadia, marking a historic shift away from Delhi. Kartik Aaryan posted from the Statue of Unity as he prepares to receive the National Award for Best Actor at the September 22 ceremony in Kevadia.
TL;DR
Kartik Aaryan posted from the Statue of Unity as he prepares to receive the National Award for Best Actor at the September 22 ceremony in Kevadia.
Key points
- Kartik Aaryan will receive the National Award for Best Actor for his role in *Chandu Champion*
- He posted Instagram photos beside the Statue of Unity and shared a meal of thepla and other local dishes
- The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is set for 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat, presented by President Droupadi Murmu
- Aaryan shares the Best Actor honour with Malayalam legend Mammootty, who is recognised for *Bramayugam*
- Other highlights include *Article 370* winning Best Feature Film, *Kalki 2898 AD* winning Best Popular Feature Film, and Anant Nag receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Mumbai – Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who is slated to receive the National Award for Best Actor, arrived in Gujarat this week for the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony. On Monday, Aaryan shared a series of Instagram pictures and videos taken in Kevadia, where he is seen standing next to the towering Statue of Unity. One of the posts highlighted a spread of local delicacies, including thepla, which he captioned, “Thepla was good.”
In the same post he wrote, “A legacy larger than life #StatueOfUnity,” prompting a wave of congratulatory comments from his followers. One user exclaimed, “Sooooooooooo Excited About U Receiving Ur National Award,” while another wrote, “Sattu back in town.” A third fan added, “I’m happy when you happy, it’s simple.”
Aaryan will be honoured for his performance in the sports biopic *Chandu Champion*, in which he portrayed Paralympic gold‑medallist Murlikant Petkar. He will share the Best Actor award with Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty, who is being recognised for his role in *Bramayugam*.
The awards were announced on 18 July 2026 by the National Film Development Corporation of India. The competition featured 400 feature‑film entries, 161 non‑feature films, 38 books and 24 critics’ submissions. The political action‑thriller *Article 370* won Best Feature Film, while the dystopian science‑fiction film *Kalki 2898 AD* secured Best Popular Feature Film.
The ceremony is scheduled for 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours. Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, underscoring the edition’s significance as the first National Film Awards ceremony held outside Delhi.
Aaryan’s visit to the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, adds a cultural backdrop to the upcoming event and reflects the film industry’s growing engagement with regional landmarks and audiences.