From making audiences sit up with his unforgettable monologue in Pyaar Ka Punchnama to winning the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Chandu Champion and the National Film Award, Kartik Aaryan’s journey is a testament to persistence, self-belief and the courage to break out of a mould.
Films such as Akaash Vani offered an early glimpse of his emotional range, while Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety(2018) transformed his career trajectory. As Sonu, the fiercely protective friend navigating the complications of his best friend’s impending marriage, Kartik combined comic timing, mischief and emotional conviction. The film’s commercial success established him as a bankable leading man and opened the door to bigger opportunities.
The next phase showcased his versatility within mainstream entertainment. In Luka Chuppi (2019), he played Guddu, a small-town television reporter caught in a live-in relationship experiment. Pati Patni Aur Woh(2019) saw him embrace the comic chaos of Chintu Tyagi, while Dhamaka (2021) presented a more restrained, morally conflicted character in a tense newsroom thriller. These performances demonstrated his willingness to move beyond the formula that had first made him popular.
Then came Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022). As Ruhaan, better known as Rooh Baba, Kartik stepped into a successful franchise and made the character his own. His effortless blend of humour, swagger and horror-comedy timing helped turn the film into a major box-office success. With Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023), he took a different route as Sattu, a sensitive, well-meaning man whose emotional journey required vulnerability rather than bravado.
The real turning point, however, arrived with Chandu Champion (2024). Portraying Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, Kartik underwent a remarkable physical transformation and delivered a performance that demanded discipline, resilience and emotional depth. The role challenged the image audiences had associated with him and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 2025. In September 2026, he added the National Film Award for Best Actor to his growing list of honours, marking a defining milestone in his career.
That same year of reinvention also saw him return as Rooh Baba in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. Sharing screen space with Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit, he demonstrated that his success in commercial cinema was no passing phase. His ability to anchor a big-ticket entertainer while pursuing demanding dramatic roles has become an important part of his appeal.
What makes Kartik’s story compelling is not simply the string of successful films or the awards that now adorn his shelf. It is the willingness to keep moving forward despite setbacks, the patience to build a career without an established industry surname and the ambition to challenge audience expectations. His journey has included misfires and quieter phases, but each new opportunity has helped him sharpen his choices and expand his repertoire.
From Rajat’s relationship rant to Sonu’s loyal friendship, Guddu’s small-town romance, Rooh Baba’s supernatural swagger and Murlikant Petkar’s extraordinary determination, Kartik has created a filmography populated by characters that audiences remember for different reasons.
His story is also a reminder that overnight success is often the product of years of unseen effort. Kartik Aaryan may have begun as the Monologue King, but he has steadily worked towards becoming an actor capable of carrying both commercial spectacles and performance-driven cinema. Fifteen years after his 2011 debut with a Filmfare trophy and a National Film Award to his name, his journey is no longer just about making it in Bollywood. It is about earning the opportunity to define what comes next.
With an exciting slate of projects ahead, Kartik is set to explore newer cinematic worlds through Naagzilla, Captain India, an untitled musical love story directed by Anurag Basu, and an untitled inspirational sports drama directed by Kabir Khan. These projects reflect his continued ambition to experiment with diverse genres and take on varied roles.
Kartik Aaryan’s journey stands as a testament to reinvention, perseverance and the power of an ever-evolving body of work—from being recognised for his iconic monologues to earning one of Indian cinema’s most prestigious acting honours.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: filmfare.com
