Sushant Singh Rajput was the original ‘Chandu Champion’ before Kartik Aaryan took over!

Actor Kartik Aaryan bagged his first-ever Filmfare Award in the ‘Best Actor’ category for Chandu Champion, sharing the honour with Abhishek Bachchan for I Want To Talk. In the film, Kartik delivered a stirring portrayal of Paralympic legend Murlikant Petkar, blending emotional intensity with an impressive physical transformation.

But, did you know that Chandu Champion was originally meant to feature Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead role before Kartik came on board?

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Sushant Singh Rajput Was the First Choice for Chandu Champion?

Almost a year after Chandu Champion hit theatres, it was revealed that Sushant Singh Rajput had originally been set to play Petkar. Actor Bhuvan Arora, in an earlier interview, disclosed that Sushant had personally acquired the story rights to Petkar’s life.

He recounted an airport encounter where Sushant shared his enthusiasm about portraying a Paralympic swimmer.

Bhuvan Arora’s Emotional Revelation

“Ironically, I did Chandu Champion. Initially, Sushant was supposed to do it. He had the rights to that film and must have bought them from Murlikant Petkar. Even Petkar sir mentioned it in an interview,” Arora revealed.

He further added, “When Chandu Champion released, I remembered Sushant telling me about this very project years ago. It’s ironic that I became part of it later, but Sushant wasn’t there.”

The Film’s Journey After Sushant’s Passing

After Sushant’s untimely death in 2020, the film eventually found its way to Kartik Aaryan, with Kabir Khan stepping in as director. Released on June 14, 2024, the film received mixed reactions but succeeded in spotlighting the inspiring journey of India’s first Paralympic gold medallist.

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A Tribute That Lives On

Though Sushant never got the chance to play Murlikant Petkar, his passion for meaningful cinema remains remembered. His tragic demise in June 2020 continues to evoke emotion and debate, with fans keeping his legacy alive.