NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan has been invited to attend President Droupadi Murmu’s prestigious ‘At Home Reception’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 15, adding another major achievement to a year that has already brought him one of the biggest honours of his career.
The traditional Independence Day reception is hosted by the President of India and brings together prominent personalities from different fields, including political leaders, members of the armed forces, sportspersons, artists and other notable achievers.
Invitation Comes After National Award Win
Aaryan’s invitation comes shortly after he won the Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards for his performance as Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in Kabir Khan’s sports drama Chandu Champion. He shared the Best Actor honour with Malayalam superstar Mammootty.
The National Award marked a significant milestone in Aaryan’s career. After the announcement, the actor shared an emotional video showing himself watching the ceremony with his parents. His family celebrated with him after his name was announced as the winner.
Reportedly the Only Bollywood Actor Invited
Several reports described Aaryan as the only Bollywood actor invited to this year’s high-profile reception. The gathering is traditionally attended by distinguished individuals who have made notable contributions in areas including public service, defence, sports, cinema and the arts.
The invitation therefore represents another moment of recognition for Aaryan, who has increasingly taken on diverse roles beyond mainstream romantic comedies.
Aaryan Attends Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Aaryan subsequently attended the reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on August 15. The event began with the rendition of Vande Mataram followed by the National Anthem.
The reception was hosted as part of India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations and was attended by several prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Ram Nath Kovind, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers, diplomats and eminent personalities from different sectors.
Aaryan also shared photographs from the event on social media. He appeared in a formal dark bandhgala paired with light-coloured trousers and a red pocket square and captioned his post, “Happy Independence Day. Proud to be an Indian.”
Another Major Moment in Kartik’s Career
The invitation comes at a particularly significant stage in Aaryan’s career. His National Award win for Chandu Champion has added critical recognition to his growing commercial profile.
His portrayal of Murlikant Petkar required him to take on a physically and emotionally demanding role, marking a departure from some of the lighter characters associated with his earlier career.
The President’s reception has now added another prestigious moment to a year that has already seen Aaryan receive national recognition for his acting.
A Year of Recognition
From winning his first National Film Award to attending an official Independence Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2026 has proved to be an important year for Kartik Aaryan.
His appearance at the President’s reception places him among a distinguished group of personalities from across India and further highlights the growing recognition of his work in Hindi cinema.
