Chhaava (Marathi: [tɕʰaʋa], meaning 'lion cub') is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language historical action film based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, who is played by Vicky Kaushal. An adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant, it is directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. The cast also includes Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna. Pre-production began in April 2023; filming commenced in October 2023 and ended in May 2024. The film score and soundtrack album are composed by A. R. Rahman while the lyrics are written by Irshad Kamil and Kshitij Patwardhan. Chaava was released in theatres on 14 February 2025 in standard and IMAX formats. It has earned ₹515.33 crore (US$60 million) to rank as the ninth highest-grossing film of 2025, the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, and the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025. It also ranks among the highest-grossing Hindi films of all time.

Plot

The film begins with the news of the death of Shivaji reaching the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. His advisers anticipate the collapse of the Maratha resistance, while Aurangzeb, though acknowledging the loss of a formidable enemy, orders a celebration. However, leadership has already passed to Sambhaji, Shivaji's son. Burhanpur, a key Mughal administrative and commercial center, faces a sudden Maratha attack. The defenders, unprepared, are overwhelmed by the onslaught. In the midst of battle, Sambhaji falls into a pit where he faces a lion. Overpowering the beast, he kills it with his bare hands. The Marathas seize the Mughal treasury, directly challenging imperial authority. As reports arrive in Delhi, Aurangzeb realizes that the Maratha resistance remains intact. He initiates a vast military campaign to crush them. Meanwhile, Sambhaji is warmly welcomed home by his wife, Yesubai, while factional intrigue grows within the Maratha court, with conspirators attempting to install Rajaram, Sambhaji step-brother, as ruler. Aurangzeb's forces advance, and the atrocities committed under his command are briefly noted. Diplomatic negotiations unfold as Mughal prince Mirza Akbar seeks Sambhaji assistance in rebelling against Aurangzeb. While skeptical, Sambhaji uncovers covert communications between his stepmother, Soyarabai, and the prince - a conspiracy to overthrow him is revealed, and the traitors are executed beneath an elephant's crushing weight. Recognizing the superior numbers of the Mughal army, Sambhaji employs guerrilla tactics. The Deccan's challenging terrain proves disastrous for the Mughals, causing heavy losses. Aurangzeb, having vowed to remain uncrowned until Sambhaji is defeated, faces increasing difficulty. His daughter, Zinat-un-Nissa, attempts to capture her estranged brother Mirza Akbar, but the Marathas foil the ambush. Internal dissent weakens Sambhaji ranks as jagirdars (feudal lords) defect to the Mughals, prompting him to convene a royal council. Meanwhile, his disgruntled brothers-in-law betray his location, leading to a Mughal ambush. As many warriors fall, key Maratha leaders Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav are smuggled out to continue the resistance, while an outnumbered Sambhaji fights until his capture. Taken before Aurangzeb, he refuses to submit. His loyal advisor, Kavi Kalash, is executed soon after. Sambhaji is brutally tortured but does not renounce his ideals. Aurangzeb, facing mounting revolts, offers him a chance to surrender. Sambhaji remains defiant, declaring that the struggle for Swaraj ('self-governance') has spread across the empire. After the execution of Sambhaji, Yesubai crowns Rajaram as the next Chhatrapati, ensuring the resistance continues. The film ends with the eventual triumph of the Maratha Empire, as the Mughal Empire collapses within three decades, leading to the establishment of Indian Swaraj (self rule).

Cast

Production

= Development and pre-production

= Everyone knows about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, but no one knows about Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He had such great courage and was a great warrior, but sadly no one knows about it. During the pandemic when I read about Sambhaji Maharaj, I realised he is such a big character, and why are we not talking about his life? That's when I started writing and the idea of Chhaava came to me. In 2021, Laxman Utekar told Dinesh Vijan that he wanted to make a film with Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna. In December 2022, it was reported that Utekar was working on a historical biopic, based on the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant. After completing script in January 2023, pre-production for the film began in April, and principal photography starting in October. Utekar and his team spent a year researching the 17th-century Maratha era, travelling to historical towns like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Ratnagiri, Pune, Nashik, and Paithan. Sheetal Sharma served as costume designer, sourcing authentic Paithani sarees and restored 500-year-old borders for Rashmika Mandanna's character, Yesubai. To ensure authenticity, he visited Paithan and Narayanpeth to acquire Paithani and Narayanpeth sarees. Additional accessories were gathered from Kolhapur, Sawantwadi, and Ratnagiri. Sharma also mentioned that Vicky Kaushal's outfit in the first action sequence of the film weighed approximately 17–18 kg. Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray recreated jewellery and the sword Bhavani, drawing references from museums in London. Vicky Kaushal's portrayal of Sambhaji was based on historical busts and statues to ensure accuracy. A. R. Rahman was roped in to compose the score. The film was officially announced on 3 October 2023, when Maddock Films revealed its upcoming slate of theatrical releases, including the release date for Chhaava.

= Casting and filming

= Laxman Utekar discussed his upcoming film with Vicky Kaushal during the shoot of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023). In January 2023, Utekar confirmed that Kaushal would portray Sambhaji, marking their second collaboration following Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Kaushal would be reportedly receiving a ₹10 crore (US$1.2 million) remuneration. Utekar mentioned that Kaushal would undergo four months of training in sword fighting, horse riding, and that shooting would begin once they were satisfied with his preparation. Vaibhav Vishant served as casting director. In August 2023, it was reported that Marathi actor Santosh Juvekar would play a pivotal role in the film. He was originally cast as Ganoji Shirke, but later, director Laxman Utekar met with him in his office and offered him the role of Rayaji Malge instead. During the same month, Juvekar and Kaushal underwent horse riding training in the Mumbai suburbs. During trailer launch, Kaushal revealed that he was trained in sword, stick, and spear fighting for 6–7 months. He also gained 25 kg weight for the role. During shooting in Raigad a set was constructed for the scene depicting Chhatrapati Sambhaji's ascension to the throne, featuring an eight-sided throne. By October 2023, it was reported that Kaushal had started his preparations for the film alongside co-star Rashmika Mandanna. Mandanna would be reportedly receiving ₹4 crore (US$460,000) remuneration. The same month, Ashutosh Rana and Divya Dutta join cast as Hambirrao Mohite and Soyarabai, respectively. Rana would be reportedly receiving ₹80 lakh (US$92,000) remuneration. Dutta later discussed her portrayal in an interview with Mid-Day in December 2024. On 4 December 2023, Pradeep Rawat joined the film's cast. Mandanna wrapped up her portion of filming in January 2024, while Kaushal resumed filming in Wai on 9 March 2024, continuing until 6 April 2024. On 23 April 2024, Santosh Juvekar completed his portions. Earlier in the production process, the team had approached Anil Kapoor for the role of Aurangzeb, but in October 2023, Akshaye Khanna joined the cast in the role instead. He would be reportedly receiving ₹2 crore (US$230,000) for his remuneration. Diana Penty joined the film in the role of Zinat-un-Nissa Begum. Principal photography for the film wrapped in May 2024. Initially, Utekar had approached Marathi actor Ashok Shinde for a negative role, but Shinde declined the offer due to a scheduling conflict with his existing contract with Zee, as he revealed in a November 2024 interview with ItsMajja.

= Post-production

= After filming concluded in May 2024, the movie entered post-production. The visual effects were handled by Assemblage Entertainment and ReDefine. Gary Brown and Simon Frame from Assemblage and Somesh Samit Ghosh from ReDefine served as the VFX supervisors for the film. On 11 February 2025, Pinkvilla reported that Ajay Devgn was hired to provide a voiceover for the film, completing his dubbing in the final week. On 1 February 2025, the film was granted a U/A 16+ certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), with a runtime of 161 minutes and 50 seconds. The CBFC required certain modifications, including the replacement of dialogues in the first half and the removal of a scene featuring Maratha warriors in sarees. Additionally, the CBFC requested the inclusion of an audio-text disclaimer, mentioning the book the film is adapted from and clarifying that it does not aim to defame anyone or distort historical facts. Following backlash from certain Maharashtrian political figures for featuring a scene in the trailer in which Chatrapati Sambhaji and his wife perform lezim dance, Utekar decided to delete the sequence from the film.

Soundtrack

The music of the film is composed by A. R. Rahman while the lyrics are written by Irshad Kamil and Kshitij Patwardhan. The first single titled "Jaane Tu" was released on 31 January 2025. The second single titled "Aaya Re Toofan" was released on 6 February 2025. The album launch event was held on 13 February 2025.

Marketing

The teaser of the film was showcased before the preview shows of Stree 2, and was later released on social media on 19 August 2024, coinciding Raksha Bandhan. The film's trailer was released on 22 January 2025.

Release

= Theatrical

= Initially set to release on 6 December 2024, the film was later postponed to 14 February 2025. The film was simultaneously released in Russia. The film has been declared tax-free in Madhya Pradesh and Goa. The film will release Telugu language dubbed version on 7 March 2025.

= Home media

= The film's digital streaming rights were acquired by Netflix.

= Distribution

= The film was distributed by Pen Marudhar in India and Yash Raj Films internationally. The Telugu version will be distributed by Geetha Arts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Reception

= Critical response

= On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 30% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. Prasanna Zore of Rediff gave the film 4 out of 5, writing "Chhaava deserves 2 stars for the historically half-baked film that it is, but 4 stars just for its attempt on making a film on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj". Zee News gave 4 stars out of 5 stars and wrote "Chhaava is much more than just an action-packed period drama; it's a film that resonates with its historical significance while maintaining its emotional core. " Pooja Biraia Jaiswal of The Week rated 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and wrote "The film showcases regality and grandeur, adrenaline-pumping action sequences and punchy dialogues, but interestingly, it does all of that and more, while ensuring it doesn't lose track of the plot and the narrative that runs beautifully across all its frames." Nishad Thaivalappil of News18 gave 3.5 out of 5 rating and the reviewer highlights Vicky Kaushal's outstanding portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and praises the film for effectively capturing his legacy. Kusumika Das of Times Now awarded 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and wrote "While Utekar’s storytelling could have been tighter, his attempt is commendable. Most notably, Chhaava unveils a fierce, unrelenting Vicky Kaushal in a historical saga." Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India have 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and wrote "Chhaava’s excellence lies in its gripping second half and a terrific climax." Devesh Sharma of Filmfare rated 3.5 stars out of 5 stars and noted that Chhaava succeeds in delivering a high-intensity action film, anchored by Vicky Kaushal's powerhouse performance. However, he pointed out that the film doesn't fully delve into the complexities of Sambhaji's character, leaving much of his multifaceted legacy unexplored. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, gave 2.5 out of 5 rating and wrote "Vicky Kaushal is fully committed in Laxman Utekar’s ultra-loud, ultra-violent, and exhausting film". Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 2.5 stars out of 5 and said that "The film, has far greater depth than the top-heavy treatment that it deploys India order to pay tribute to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj". Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint gave it 2.5 stars and commented that "Unlike its protagonist, who often runs into battle like a man possessed even when the odds seem stacked against him, the film simply wasn’t brave enough to take that leap." Tushar Joshi of India Today wrote, "Chhaava doesn't aim to be exceptionally different, but it masters the art of navigating the mainstream waters without completely drowning in the cacophony of its own voice." Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India observe that "Chhaava is neither romanticised nor pulpy. It’s just scared. So scared that only gods and demons can afford to exist. So scared that it’s blinded by its own reflection." Anuj Kumar of The Hindu said that "Struggling to choose between history and the current nationalist sentiment, Laxman Utekar’s unsurprising narrative finds its voice in the final. Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in said in her review that "Laxman Utekar takes us through every bit of this ordeal – it’s what Chhaava has been building up to. The Christ-like imagery is apposite, given the all-round love for medieval punishment. But the film’s lack of feeling is vivid too, with shouty speechifying mistaken for heartfelt passion and sumptuous visuals confused for grandeur."

= Box office

= As of 25 February 2025, Chhaava has grossed ₹440.19 crore (US$51 million) domestically and ₹515.33 crore (US$60 million) worldwide. Chhaava had a strong opening day, particularly in the state of Maharashtra, grossing ₹33.10 crore (US$3.8 million) in India. The film collected ₹157 crore (US$18 million) worldwide in its opening weekend, making it Laxman Utekar's highest-grossing film, surpassing his previous film Luka Chuppi, which earned ₹128.6 crore (US$15 million). On 19 February 2025, the film earned ₹33 crore (US$3.8 million) and become the ninth fastest Hindi film to reach ₹200 crore club and also setting a record for the highest collection on a first Wednesday. In its first week, the film crossed the ₹225 crore (US$26 million) mark in India. By the second Saturday, it earned ₹44.10 crore (US$5.1 million). The film entered the ₹300 crore club in its second weekend and crossed ₹400 crore (US$46 million) globally.

See also

Dharmarakshak Mahaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj: Chapter 1 Shivrayancha Chhava Tanhaji Bajirao Mastani

Notes

References

External links

Chhaava at IMDb Chhaava at Rotten Tomatoes Chhaava at Bollywood Hungama