Murlikant Petkar, the inspiration for the movie Chandu Champion, attended a special premiere organised by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) recently. The event was also attended by PCI president Devendra Jhajharia, a double-gold medalist at the Paralympic Games, and other para-athletes. What stood out was that Petkar cried after watching his biopic.
Before this premiere, Murlikant watched the film with actor Kartik Aaryan, who plays him in the movie, and director Kabir Khan. After the screening, Kartik told Zoom that Murlikant cried and said to him, "Tumne mujhe rula diya," which means "You made me cry."
In an exclusive interview with India TV, Murlikant has explained why he got emotional after watching his biopic. "This is a must-watch movie. Chandu Champion shows the real struggles of handicapped people. I want to thank the PCI president for bringing the para-athletes to this premiere, as it will inspire them to win gold for their country," he said.
Murlikant explained that his tears were a mix of emotions. "Yes, I got emotional after watching it. It was because I did not get enough (recognition) at the time when I needed it. They were tears of joy as I am getting that now," he added.
The movie opened on June 14, earning Rs. 4.75 crore on its first day. It saw a surge, earning 6.75 crore the next day. Alongside Kartik Aaryan, the film features Vijay Raaz and Bhuvan Arora in key roles.
"Chandu Champion" tells the story of Murlikant Petkar, a survivor of the 1965 Indo-Pak war who made history as India's first Paralympic medalist.
Also Read: How Kartik Aaryan's 14-Month Boxing Training For Chandu Champion Changed Him?
In "Chandu Champion," Kartik Aaryan plays Murlikant Petkar, a real-life Paralympic gold medalist. The movie shows Murli as a young man who dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal. He faces a lot of criticism from his classmates, teachers, and parents. His classmates call him "Chandu," but he is determined to prove them wrong. To improve, Murli joins the Indian Army. However, his life changes when he is shot nine times during the 1965 India-Pakistan war and falls into a coma for two years. Despite this, Murli's spirit stays strong. The trailer shows his hard training and relentless effort, leading him to win India’s first Paralympic gold medal in swimming at the 1972 Paralympics in Germany.
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