‘There
are
certain
characters
that,
when
you
get
the
opportunity
to
play
them,
you
feel
scared,
wondering
if
you
will
be
able
to
do
justice
to
them.’
‘That
fear
comes
from
knowing
how
deeply
sentiments
and
faith
are
attached
to
such
roles.’
Vicky
Kaushal
makes
a
grand
entry
at
the
Chhaava
trailer
launch.
Photograph:
Panna
Bandekar
Dhol,
trumpets,
saffron
flags,
and
men
and
women
dressed
in
gorgeous
Maharashtrian
attire
marked
the
truly
Maratha-style
regal
welcome
for
Vicky
Kaushal
and
team
as
they
approached
Mumbai’s
iconic
Plaza
Cinema
to
unveil
the
trailer
for
their
film, Chhaava.
Directed
by
Laxman
Utekar,
who
has
previously
helmed
films
like
Luka
Chuppi,
Mimi,
Zara
Hatke
Zara
Bachke,
the
film
presents
Vicky
in
a
larger-than-life
character
of
Chhatrapati
Sambhaji
Maharaj,
Chhatrapati
Shivaji
Maharaj’s
elder
son
and
the
second
Maratha
king.
Photograph:
Panna
Bandekar
Utekar
said
it
was
his
privilege
to
make
a
film
like
Chhaava.
“I
consider
myself
lucky
that
in
our
country
lived
such
a
great
king
who
fought
127
battles
and
won
every
single
one.
It
was
my
dream
for
the
Maratha
king
Chhatrapati
Sambhaji
Maharaj
and
his
sacrifices
to
be
known
across
the
world,”
the
director
said.
Vicky
said
he
was
initially
“scared”
about
playing
such
a
legendary
historical
figure
but
Director
Utekar’s
faith
gave
him
the
confidence.
Chhaava
marks
Vicky’s
second
collaboration
with
Utekar
after
the
2023
rom-com
Zara
Hatke
Zara
Bachke.
“There
are
certain
characters
that,
when
you
get
the
opportunity
to
play
them,
you
feel
scared,
wondering
if
you
will
be
able
to
do
justice
to
them.
That
fear
comes
from
knowing
how
deeply
sentiments
and
faith
are
attached
to
such
roles.
“More
than
living
that
life,
understanding
the
culture,
history
and
values
was
the
biggest
earning
from
the
film
and
that’s
something
I
will
never
forget,”
Vicky
said
about
his
process
of
portraying
Chhatrapati
Sambhaji.
WATCH:
From
training
in
sword,
spear
fighting
to
gaining
25
kilos
for
the
role,
Vicky
Kaushal
talks
about
his
prep
for
Chhaava
Vicky
Kaushal
and
Rashmika
Mandanna,
sitting
on
a
wheelchair.
Photograph:
Hemantkumar
Shivsharan/Rediff.com
Rashmika
Mandanna,
who
plays
Sambhaji
Maharaj’s
wife
Maharani
Yesubai
Bhonsale,
came
to
the
event
in
a
wheelchair
due
to
her
recent
foot
injury.
The
actor
was
seen
limping
as
she
arrived,
but
her
smiling
face
was
expressing
her
joy
for
making
it
at
the
event.
“I
wouldn’t
have
missed
this
event
for
anything,
that’s
how
much
I
love
this
team,”
Rashmika
said
with
a
smile.
“It’s
an
honour,
as
a
girl
from
the
South,
to
be
playing
a
maharani.
Yesubai
is
the
most
privileged
and
special
role
I
could
have
asked
for
in
this
lifetime.
I
was
just
telling
Laxman
sir
that
after
this,
I
feel
content
enough
to
retire,”
she
adds.
WATCH:
Rashmika
Mandanna
shares
what
makes
Chhaava
so
special
to
her
Director
Laxman
Utekar,
Vicky
Kaushal
and
Producer
Dinesh
Vijan
arrive
at
the
Chhaava
trailer
launch.
Photograph:
Hitesh
Harisinghani/Rediff.com
Chhaava
is
backed
by
Producer
Dinesh
Vijian’s
Maddock
Films,
currently
riding
high
on
the
success
of
their
Supernatural
Universe
with
films
like
Stree
2
and
Munjya.
Vijan
said
Chhaava
is
the
culmination
of
his
20-year-long
journey
in
the
film
industry
and
promised
the
upcoming
film
will
do
justice
to
Chhatrapati
Sambhaji
Maharaj’s
glorious
legacy.
“We
are
very
proud
of
this
film.
It’s
my
20th
year
in
the
industry.
It
is
the
hard
work
of
all
these
years
that
we
are
able
mount
such
a
film.
I
am
sure
the
audience
will
like
it,”
he
said.
Vicky
Kaushal
and
Rashmika
Mandanna
at
the
Chhaava
trailer
launch.
Photograph:
Hemantkumar
Shivsharan/Rediff.com
Based
on
Shivaji
Sawant’s
celebrated
Marathi
novel
of
the
same
name,
Chhaava
narrates
the
valour
of
Chhatrapati
Sambhaji
who
ascended
the
throne
after
Chhatrapati
Shivaji
Maharaj’s
death.
The
trailer
promises
an
action-packed
spectacle
with
a
waging
war
between
the
Maratha
empire
and
the
Mughals.
The
trailer
also
features
an
almost
unrecognisable
Akshaye
Khanna
as
Aurangzeb.
The
cherry
on
the
cake
is
A
R
Rahman’s
captivating
music,
who
returns
to
period
films
after
Jodhaa
Akbar,
Mohenjo
Daro,
Kochadaiiyaan,
and
Ponniyin
Selvan
I
and
II.
WATCH:
Here’s
what
Director
Laxman
Utekar
likes
about
Vicky
Kaushal
Vicky
said
he
was
really
keen
to
do
another
action-oriented
film
after
his
2019
film
Uri:
The
Surgical
Strike,
and
with
his
long
wait
came
fruition
with
Chhaava.
The
actor
mentioned
he
has
given
his
absolute
best
and
he
feels
content
with
his
performance
in
the
film.
“I
feel
shy
to
talk
about
the
prep
now
that
the
work
is
done,
but
whatever
was
inside
me,
I
gave
it
all
to
this.
I
am
satisfied
knowing
that
I
had
nothing
more
to
give
to
any
film
than
what
I’ve
given
to
this
one,”
Vicky
said.
Chhaava
arrives
in
theatres
on
February
14
ahead
of
Chhatrapati
Shivaji
Maharaj’s
395th
birth
anniversary
on
February
19.
