Rahul Bhatt reveals he didn’t get along with Kartik Aaryan during Chandu Champion prep: ‘He’s like Baap ka baap, dadaji in self PR’ | Hindi Movie News

Kartik Aaryan surprised fans and critics alike with his physical transformation in Kabir Khan’s 2024 sports biopic Chandu Champion, where he portrayed India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, Padma Shri Murlikant Petkar. The actor trained rigorously for the role, which required him to convincingly perform as a professional boxer and swimmer. Behind this transformation was fitness coach Rahul Bhatt, son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.
‘He pulled it off without an athletic background’
In an interview with Hindi Rush, Rahul Bhatt opened up about the intense process of preparing Kartik for the film and how their working relationship evolved over time.
“He didn’t have any foundation in strength training. He had to do boxing, which is a completely different skill, and he also had to learn swimming. So it was a tough thing he pulled off,” Rahul explained, praising Kartik’s commitment despite not coming from an athletic background. “He’s not Tiger [Shroff] or one of those guys. But he pulled it off.”
‘We didn’t get along at first’
Rahul, who previously trained Aamir Khan for Dangal, admitted that things didn’t start off smoothly with Kartik. “Mere upar shak karta tha pehle (he doubted me in the beginning). I didn’t get along with him like I did with Aamir. In this business, you have to get along. You have to surrender to your coach. That comfort has to be there,” he said, emphasizing the importance of trust in actor-trainer dynamics.
‘He’s the king of self-promotion’
Despite their initial differences, Kartik won Rahul over with his attitude and work ethic. “He was very respectful, very punctual, a thorough professional again. There are a lot of things I’ve learnt from him — like self-promotion. Baap ka baap hai, dadaji hai, ye sab cheez mein (he’s the king of PR). But I can’t do what he can. Only he can do it. That’s what it takes to be a movie star in today’s time,” Rahul remarked, acknowledging Kartik’s instinct for branding and media presence.

Rahul Bhatt is a fitness coach, actor, and television personality best known for his dedication to physical training and transformation. The son of acclaimed filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and brother to actress Pooja Bhatt, Rahul initially stepped into the limelight with his appearance on Bigg Boss 4 in 2010, where he spent five weeks in the controversial reality show hosted by Salman Khan.