Filmmaker Kabir Khan, known for his acclaimed directorial works ’83’ and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming biographical sports drama Chandu Champion. The film is based on the life of India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar. In a recent interview with IANS, Kabir shared insights into his decision to cast Kartik Aaryan as the lead character, revealing that his gut instinct played a pivotal role in the casting process.
Recalling his initial meeting with Kartik Aaryan, Kabir Khan explained, “When I was writing the script of ‘Chandu Champion’, I had an image in my mind for the character. This image included age, personality, and attitude. The next step was to find an actor who could embody these characteristics. Very strongly, I felt that Kartik Aaryan had these traits.”
Despite never having worked together or even met properly before, Kabir and Kartik had a lengthy meeting that lasted around 2.5 hours. During this meeting, they discussed the film extensively. “As a director, it’s my job to gauge whether an actor is the right fit for a character. A director’s gut instinct is very strong. After that 2.5-hour meeting with him, I was very clear that Kartik would be the Chandu Champion,” Kabir shared.
Kabir further elaborated on the two crucial questions he had for Kartik, which the actor answered without hesitation. “I only had two questions, which Kartik answered without batting an eye – firstly, about getting a haircut, and secondly, about undergoing a very tough body transformation because Petkar is a top athlete of international level. Kartik had no hesitations with both questions. I knew he would go the extra mile to do it,” concluded Kabir.
Chandu Champion, jointly produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan, is set to hit theatres on June 14. Fans are eagerly anticipating the film, especially with the promising collaboration between Kabir Khan and Kartik Aaryan, who is expected to bring the inspiring story of Murlikant Petkar to life on the big screen.
Sources By Agencies
