Coach Tridev Pandey confirms Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Chandu Champion’ transformation pic is NOT edited |

Kartik Aaryan’s upcoming role in Kabir Khan’s film ‘Chandu Champion’ has been creating waves, not just for its intriguing storyline but also for the actor’s incredible physical transformation. He is set to portray Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympics gold medallist, a role demanding a physique reminiscent of a professional freestyle swimmer. The transformation involved the actor shedding significant weight, dropping from 90 kgs to 72 kgs, and reducing his body fat from 39% to a remarkable 7%.This journey from an insomniac to a fitness enthusiast has been nothing short of inspirational, yet it hasn’t been without its controversies.
Recently, Kartik shared a before-and-after transformation picture on social media, which quickly went viral. While many praised his dedication and hard work, a segment of netizens cast doubt on the authenticity of the transformation, accusing the initial picture of being heavily photoshopped. These skeptics argued that the image was manipulated to exaggerate Aaryan’s starting point and thus amplify the perceived effort involved in his transformation.

Tridev Pandey, a national-level boxer who trained Aaryan for ‘Chandu Champion,’ addressed these allegations head-on. While talking to News18, he was unequivocal in his defense of the transformation pictures, stating that there was no digital manipulation involved. He mentioned, “I’ll keep posting videos of Kartik over the next few days for people to see. I have a video of him boxing where he’s wearing a hoodie and one can see the fat and his tires visible on either side of his waist. He has been fatter than what you see in the picture before the transformation and he looked especially fat when he would be bare bodied.”
He further elaborated on Kartik’s fitness journey, which began in 2022. At that time, the ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’ actor was visibly heavier, as he gained weight for his role in ‘Freddy.’ His initial physical state was so alarming that he struggled with basic exercises. Tridevi Pandey mentioned Kartik had a tough time doing basic movements like squats, pull-ups and push-ups. This marked the beginning of an arduous journey that spanned over 13-14 months, culminating in Aaryan’s impressive new physique.

The first poster of ‘Chandu Champion,’ which features a mud-smeared Aaryan running in a traditional langot, also sparked debates about image editing. Tridev Pandey acknowledged minor edits, stating, “There’s a bit of editing in his legs but not in his upper body. But it’s very minor. I was there when the picture was taken. I was there during the shoot and I was running alongside him.” He further clarified that the second poster, which depicts Kartik Aaryan as a boxer, is entirely natural.