Following riots in Nagpur after protests against Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, a curfew was imposed in the city. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured the public that authorities were managing the situation and noted that the recent Bollywood blockbuster Chhaava had stirred emotions against the Mughal ruler.
This led to widespread criticism of the film and its team on social media, with many accusing director Laxman Utekar and lead actor Vicky Kaushal of inciting hatred against Aurangzeb and, by extension, minority communities.
On Twitter (now X), several users blamed Vicky for allegedly promoting ‘majoritarian hatred’ through the film. However, his fans quickly came to his defence, arguing that he was being unfairly targeted.
Supporters of the actor dismissed the criticism, asserting that an actor should not be held accountable for a film’s tone. “The outrage over Chhaava is misplaced! Vicky Kaushal’s brilliant portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is a tribute to art. As liberals, we shouldn’t scapegoat actors for doing their jobs. Let’s celebrate cinema instead of blaming it,” one user wrote.
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Another remarked, “The violence in Nagpur is deeply unfortunate, but blaming Vicky Kaushal for it is completely unfair. He is an actor playing a historical character in a film that went through multiple approvals before release. If the movie has triggered strong reactions, discussions should focus on historical interpretation and governance, not an individual performer.”
Some also pointed out that the film did not demonise Aurangzeb. “Chhaava actually portrays Sambhaji as being betrayed by his own people, not the Mughals,” a tweet noted.
Directed by Laxman Utekar, Chhaava is a historical biopic of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who resisted Mughal rule in the 17th century. Vicky Kaushal stars as the Maratha warrior, while Akshaye Khanna plays Aurangzeb.
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The film, which also features Rashmika Mandanna, Divya Dutta, Ashutosh Rana, and Vineet Kumar Singh, received mixed to positive reviews but emerged as a box office success, earning Rs 764 crore worldwide, including Rs 565 crore in India.
With inputs from Indian media