Actor Vicky Kaushal’s blockbuster film Chhaava
continues to make waves at the box office, but filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar
believes the film’s success belongs more to the historical figure it portrays
than to the actor himself.
In a recent interview with Mirchi Marathi, Manjrekar
shared his candid opinion on why Chhaava became such a phenomenon,
collecting a staggering ₹800 crore worldwide.
Mahesh Manjrekar on Vicky’s Role
Speaking in Marathi, Manjrekar said,
“Vicky Kaushal is a very fine actor. His film Chhaava
collected ₹800 crore. But Vicky Kaushal can never say that people came to see
him. Because then they would have come to see the previous five films as well.
The audience came to see your character. His previous five films did not work.”
Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar, is based
on the life of the legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj,
the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Vicky Kaushal essays the titular role,
while Rashmika Mandanna portrays his wife, Yesubai Bhonsale.
Manjrekar emphasized that it was the powerful emotional
connection Maharashtrians have with their history and heroes that drove the
film’s massive success, not just the star power of Kaushal.
'Maharashtra Saved Hindi Cinema'
Manjrekar further credited Maharashtra for the film’s
phenomenal run at the box office.
He said,
"So my Maharashtra has saved the Hindi film industry,
remember this. Today, Chhaava is doing well, and 80 percent of its
credit goes to Maharashtra. In fact, 90 percent of the credit goes to Pune and
the rest goes to other parts of Maharashtra. Maharashtra can save the
industry."
The film has stormed past the ₹600 crore mark in India
alone, and according to trade tracking portal Sacnilk, its worldwide
gross stands at approximately ₹807.6 crore.
About the Film
Chhaava is the second Bollywood film after Pathaan
to cross ₹600 crore in India.
Apart from Vicky and Rashmika, the film also features prominent actors like Akshaye
Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, and Divya Dutta in key roles. It is
produced by Dinesh Vijan under the banner of Maddock Films.
Vicky Kaushal, who made his debut with Masaan (2015),
has often been praised for his acting chops, but his recent films before Chhaava—including
Govinda Naam Mera and The Great Indian Family—struggled at the
box office.
Chhaava marks a major comeback for the actor and
shows the power of strong historical storytelling resonating deeply with
audiences, particularly in regions that feel culturally connected to the
subject.
As debates continue about whether star power or storytelling
ultimately drives success in Bollywood, Chhaava stands as a shining
example that sometimes, it’s the character—and the history behind it—that truly
pulls the crowds.