Mumbai, Aug 24: What happens when a director’s famous phrase is taken a little too literally? Kartik Aaryan has given fans a glimpse into his recovery after undergoing knee surgery following an injury on the sets of director Kabir Khan’s upcoming sports drama—and his post has a humorous twist.

The actor took to Instagram to share his first social media update after the surgery, posting pictures and videos from his hospital stay as well as moments from his training for the film.

In one picture, Kartik can be seen wearing a knee brace on his injured leg, accompanied by the words, “Foot out of service.” Another black-and-white image appears to have been clicked at a Mumbai hospital, showing the actor sitting on a hospital bed with IV cannulas in his left hand.

But it was Kartik’s caption that caught everyone's attention. Referring to his director Kabir Khan, the actor wrote, “Kabir sir said - Break a leg.”

Kabir Khan was quick to respond with a playful comment, joking that Kartik may have taken his words too seriously. He wrote, “HaHaha Bhai Har baat itni seriously mat sunna karo” (Brother, don’t take everything so seriously).

How Did Kartik Aaryan Get Injured?

Kartik reportedly suffered the knee injury while shooting an action sequence for Kabir Khan’s upcoming sports drama. He was subsequently admitted to a Mumbai hospital, where he underwent surgery.

His spokesperson later confirmed that the surgery was successful and that the actor had returned home to rest and recover.

“Kartik Aaryan sustained a knee injury while performing an action sequence on the set of his film. His surgery was completed successfully, and he is now back home, resting and recovering. He will be back on set soon,” the spokesperson said.

The injury comes at a significant moment in Kartik’s career. The actor recently won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at the 72nd National Film Awards, announced on July 18, 2026.

He was honoured for his portrayal of India’s first Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar in the biographical sports drama Chandu Champion, also directed by Kabir Khan.

Now, as fans wait for Kartik to make a full recovery and return to the sets, his cheeky “Break a leg” reference has certainly given his latest health update a lighter side.