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Kartik Aaryan on meeting President Murmu and visiting Rashtrapati Bhavan

'This date in my 2025 calendar will always be special,' he says

Published: Sun 19 Jan 2025, 11:54 AM

Updated: Sun 19 Jan 2025, 7:54 PM

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  • ANI

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Kartik Aaryan called his visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan (the Indian President’s residence) in New Delhi truly special. When he visited, on January 17, he met the President, Droupadi Murmu, and witnessed the Arjuna Award ceremony. He was invited along with director Kabir Khan to the event.

They were invited to the ceremony because of their project Chandu Champion which was based on Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar, who was given the lifetime achievement Arjuna Award. The event marked a significant moment in the career of the para-swimmer, who made history in 1972 as India’s first Paralympic gold medallist.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Aaryan shared his pictures with President Murmu, Murlikant Petkar, Manu Bhaker, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, and other influential personalities.

He also shared a video of himself talking to Paralympic Gold medalist Navdeep Singh in which they can be seen hugging outside Rashtrapati Bhavan.

After the visit, Aaryan called President Murmu an epitome of success, grace and inspiration. He wrote on social media, “This date in my 2025 calendar will always be special. My first visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to witness the grand Arjuna Award ceremony to my first meeting with the honourable President of India — an epitome of success, grace and inspiration — and interacting with the esteemed personalities of our country. Congratulations, @murlikantpetkar sir, on this huge honour! It’s truly been an incredible privilege to be part of your amazing journey!” wrote Aaryan.

After the meet, Shankar Prasad praised the actor’s simplicity and spontaneous nature. In response, the actor wrote, “Thank you Sir It was a pleasant experience to spend some time with an experienced and influential personality like you.”

Murlikant’s life story is nothing short of inspiring. A proud member of the Indian Army, he sustained nine bullet wounds during the 1965 war with Pakistan which paralysed him from below the waist, but he chose not to give up on his dreams.

Instead, he turned to swimming and eventually made history in 1972 when he became India's first Paralympic gold medallist.

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