Vicky Kaushal can never say audience came to see him in Chhaava, they came to see Sambhaji Maharaj, says Mahesh Manjrekar

Veteran actor and filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar recently shared his perspective on the phenomenal box office success of the historical action drama Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

In an interview with Mirchi Marathi, Mahesh Manjrekar said that the film's massive Rs 800 crore global collection should be attributed to the revered historical figure and the compelling narrative, rather than solely to Vicky Kaushal's stardom.

Mahesh Manjrekar, speaking in Marathi, stated unequivocally, “Vicky Kaushal is a very fine actor. His film Chhaava collected Rs 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 Sambhaji Maharaj also the story. Vicky Kaushal's previous five films were flops.” This bold statement underscores Manjrekar's belief that the audience's connection with the legacy of Sambhaji Maharaj was the primary driving force behind the film's widespread appeal.

Furthermore, Mahesh Manjrekar highlighted the significant contribution of the state of Maharashtra to the film's success.3 He asserted, “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.” His statement reflects a sense of pride in the regional audience's embrace of the film, suggesting that their strong connection to the Maratha warrior's history played a pivotal role in its box office triumph. He even went as far as to suggest that Maharashtra's support has been instrumental in bolstering the Hindi film industry.

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