Vicky Kaushal reacts to the box-office success of Chhaava and Dhurandhar: “Patriotism is our truth”

Chhava and Dhurandhar

Actor Vicky Kaushal has opened up about the massive box-office success of films like Chhaava and Dhurandhar, expressing pride in being associated with stories that reflect a strong and fearless India. In a recent interaction with NDTV, the actor shared his thoughts on why such films are resonating deeply with audiences across the country.

Vicky said that while films rooted in patriotism and history often strike an emotional chord, their success depends on honest storytelling rather than forced nationalism. He stressed that audiences today are smart and can easily sense when a narrative is authentic.

Vicky said, "I think patriotism can't be a formula and saying it is a formula is an insult to the emotion. Patriotism is our truth, which we will keep showing through our movies, literature and sports."

He added, "This is the way we can put our foot in the door and say that we are proud of the diversity, legacy and the truth of our country. I am so proud that I am a little part of this big moment where we are fearlessly representing India on a global map."

The actor added that portraying courage, sacrifice, and national pride on screen comes with a responsibility. He said he feels honoured to be part of a cinema that highlights India’s spirit without being loud or preachy. For Vicky, these stories represent a “fearless India” that audiences connect with on a personal level.

Vicky also acknowledged that the overwhelming response to such films motivates actors and filmmakers to tell more grounded, meaningful stories.

Vicky Kaushal delivered a career-defining performance as Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the 2025 epic historical action film Chhaava, which released on February 14, 2025, and went on to become a massive commercial success. The film emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of the year, earning approximately ₹807.88–₹809 crore worldwide and collecting around ₹601.1–₹615 crore net in India across Hindi and Telugu versions.

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It opened to a thunderous response, raking in ₹121.43 crore in its first three days, and went on to achieve several milestones, including becoming the first Bollywood film of 2025 to cross ₹500 crore in India within just 23 days. Chhaava also surpassed the Hindi net collection of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan (₹582.31 crore), securing its place as the third-highest-grossing Hindi film at the time and currently ranking as the second-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025, marking a significant high point in Kaushal’s career.