Kabir Khan exposes paid crowd at Mumbai trailer launches; reveals why Chandu Champion was launched in Gwalior: “At the stadium, when thousands of people came shouting ‘Kartik bhaiya,’ it hit different”

Chandu Champion is set to release in theatres on June 14, 2024.

June 10, 2024 - 5:09 PM IST

The trailer launch for Kartik Aaryan's upcoming biographical sports drama Chandu Champion was hosted at a grand event at the actor’s hometown of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on May 18. This decision met with initial surprise, proved to be a masterstroke, drawing a massive crowd of fans and generating immense buzz. Typically, major film launches are held in Mumbai, the heart of the Hindi film industry. This ensures maximum media exposure and industry attention. Yet, the Chandu Champion team chose a different path, prioritizing a connection with Aaryan's roots and the film's core message. The film’s director Kabir Khan said that it was a good decision because in Mumbai, half of the crowd is paid.

Kabir Khan exposes paid crowd at Mumbai trailer launches; reveals why Chandu Champion was launched in Gwalior: “At the stadium, when thousands of people came shouting ‘Kartik bhaiya,’ it hit different”

Director Kabir Khan recently shed light on the rationale behind the unconventional launch. Khan emphasized that the Gwalior event wasn't about manufactured hype, but rather about genuine admiration. Here, fans weren't drawn by the promise of catching a glimpse of celebrities, but by a sense of local pride and a desire to celebrate their hometown hero, Kartik Aaryan.

Speaking to Indian Express, he said, “During our marketing meetings, we started brainstorming as to where to organize the trailer launch. We were very happy seeing both the trailer and the final cut of the film. So we wished to organize a good event. However, the ideas that came to us initially were all very normal, like organizing it at a big or iconic place.”

News reports documented fans gathering hours before the event at Captain Roop Singh Cricket Stadium, eager to show their support for Aaryan and the film. The trailer itself, showcasing Aaryan's remarkable physical transformation to embody Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar, further fueled the excitement. The Gwalior launch transcended the usual glitzy affair, becoming a celebration of a local boy's journey to national stardom and a heartwarming tribute to an inspirational real-life story.

“While the discussions were progressing, Kartik suggested Gwalior, and it felt right instantly. As a storyteller, it immediately clicked for me. This is the story of a boy from Gwalior coming to make it big in the film industry and then taking back a big film of his and watching it with his own people,” Kabir Khan added.

“We immediately loved the idea. When we do it in Mumbai, there would be a crowd, but half of them would have been paid to attend. They will be given T-shirts and will keep shouting. But at the stadium in Gwalior, when thousands of people came shouting ‘Kartik bhaiyya,’ it hit different,” he said.

Chandu Champion is set to release in theatres on June 14, 2024.