Accompanied by his parents, the 35-year-old actor participated in the sacred Shayan Aarti late Monday night, seeking blessings at the iconic Jyotirlinga shrine following his historic Best Actor (Male) win for Chandu Champion at the 72nd National Film Awards.
The Pilgrimage Forensic: Shayan Aarti & Nandi Hall
Following a long-standing personal tradition of visiting major spiritual centers to mark pivotal life milestones, Aaryan’s visit to Ujjain was centered on quiet devotion:
The Temple Rituals: Dressed casually in a white t-shirt and blue denim, Aaryan joined devotees inside the Nandi Hall with folded hands to attend the late-night Shayan Aarti. Following the aarti, he offered prayers inside the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) and whispered his wishes into the ear of Nandi Maharaj as per local custom.
The Social Media Drop: On Tuesday, July 21, the actor shared a photograph on Instagram standing before the illuminated temple complex at night, hands raised above his head in prayer with a traditional tilak on his forehead. Keeping the caption simple, he wrote: "Jai Mahakal" alongside folded-hands emoticons.
The Milestone Context: A National Award Champion
The spiritual visit arrives directly in the wake of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s announcement on Saturday, July 18, where Aaryan was named co-winner of the Best Actor in a Leading Role honor alongside Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty (Bramayugam).
The Winning Role: Recognized for his grueling, 14-month physical transformation as Murlikant Petkar—India's first individual Paralympic gold medalist—in Kabir Khan's Chandu Champion, the win marks Aaryan's first-ever National Award after 13 years in Hindi cinema.
The Family Milestone: Videos circulating online showed the emotional moment Aaryan watched the live announcement from his Mumbai home alongside his parents, erupting in joy before hugging his mother. Taking his family along to Ujjain forms part of his ritual of sharing major career wins directly with his inner circle.
Trade Verdict:
Kartik Aaryan heading straight to Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple with his parents to celebrate his National Award victory is an authentic reflection of his grounded personal approach. Bypassing lavish industry bashes to participate in quiet temple rituals highlights how much he values this career-defining validation for Chandu Champion. As he transitions into his upcoming slate, including Naagzilla and Anurag Basu’s musical, his National Award win gives him immense momentum as both a box office draw and a critically recognized actor.
