Kartik Aaryan

Kartik Aaryan, born Kartik Tiwari on 22 November 1990, is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Hindi cinema. He has earned notable accolades, including a Filmfare Award and a National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the biographical film Chandu Champion. Recognized as a prominent figure in the industry, he was featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list in 2019. Outside of acting, he endorses several brands and products, and has co-hosted industry award ceremonies.

Aaryan was born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, to a family of medical professionals; his father is a paediatrician and his mother is a gynaecologist. He attended St. Paul's School in Gwalior before moving to Mumbai to pursue a degree in Biotechnology Engineering at D.Y. Patil University. While studying engineering, he secretly pursued a career in film, traveling long distances for auditions and taking up modeling assignments. He later enrolled in an acting program at the Kreating Charakters Institute and eventually completed his engineering degree after his screen debut.

Aaryan made his acting debut in Luv Ranjan's buddy comedy Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011), securing the role through an extensive audition process while still in college. His performance, which included a notably long single-shot monologue, earned him a nomination for the Producers Guild Film Award for Best Male Debut. After appearing in the romances Akaash Vani (2013) and Kaanchi (2014), both of which struggled commercially, he achieved major financial success with the comedy sequel Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015), winning a Stardust Award. His main breakthrough arrived in 2018 with Ranjan's comedy Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which became a major commercial hit and earned him a Zee Cine Award.

Following his breakthrough, Aaryan expanded his filmography with roles in commercially successful romantic comedies such as Luka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh, both released in 2019. He earned a second Zee Cine Award for his performance in the latter. In 2020, he played dual roles of young men from different eras in the romantic drama Love Aaj Kal. He subsequently diversified his screen image by taking on darker, non-comedic roles in thrillers, portraying a news anchor in the thriller Dhamaka (2021).

Aaryan achieved major box office success with the horror comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), playing the character Rooh Baba. That same year, he starred in the psychological thriller Freddy. In 2023, he co-produced and starred in Shehzada and featured in the romantic drama Satyaprem Ki Katha. His portrayal of Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar in the biographical drama Chandu Champion (2024) earned him a Filmfare Award and a National Film Award for Best Actor. He reprised his role as Rooh Baba in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024), which emerged as his highest-grossing release. He subsequently starred in the romantic comedy Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, with future projects including an untitled romantic drama directed by Anurag Basu.