I was scared: Vicky Kaushal on playing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in 'Chhaava'

Khaleej Times

11-02-2025

Vicky Kaushal has never been one to shy away from challenging roles. From playing real-life heroes in Uri: The Surgical Strike to intense characters in Sardar Udham, the actor has time and again proven his mettle. But stepping into the shoes of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the upcoming historical epic Chhaava was a whole new challenge, both physically and emotionally.
In a conversation with City Times, Vicky delves into his transformative journey, the rigorous preparation, and the profound experience of bringing a warrior king to life.
Initital reaction and preparations
When director Laxman Utekar first approached Vicky about playing Sambhaji Maharaj while they were shooting Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, the actor's immediate reaction was not excitement—it was fear.
"I actually got very scared because, being born and raised in Mumbai, I understand the significance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. They are not just historical figures; they are revered as gods. The weight of portraying someone of that stature was daunting," Vicky confessed. However, once he understood the vision of the project and the detailed research that had gone into it, he knew he had to give it his all.
Preparing for Chhaava was unlike anything Vicky had done before. For seven months, he dedicated himself solely to becoming Sambhaji Maharaj, pushing his body to extremes.
"Laxman sir had three non-negotiables before we started shooting. One, I had to put on significant muscle mass. He told me, 'If I'm making you fight a lion, you need to look like a lion.' So, I gained about 25 kilos of weight, and I also had to grow my hair and beard." Vicky reveals.
"Two, lots of action training and rehearsal for those six, seven months, because there's a lot of action in the film. And three, I had to master horse riding. No cheating, no body doubles. I had to make it look natural. He (Laxman) was very particular that I need to know horse riding."
The mental and emotional depth
Apart from the physical demands, Vicky immersed himself in extensive research. Growing up in Mumbai, he was already familiar with the broader strokes of Sambhaji Maharaj's history from his school days, but he craved deeper insight.
"For six to seven months, I sat down daily with Laxman sir and our writer, Rishi Virmani, to understand the finer details—the man behind the legend. I didn't just want to perform; I wanted to feel the weight of his legacy. If I didn't dive deep into the culture and history, it would have been a wasted opportunity."
One of the most emotionally charged moments for Vicky came while shooting the Rajyabhishek (coronation) sequence.
"We were shooting on the exact same date as Sambhaji Maharaj's actual coronation, 350 years later," Vicky said. "That realisation gave us all chills. The set was a near-exact replica of the Raigad Fort, down to the throne's minute details. Every time I walked up to take my place on the throne, I would start crying. I don't know why—maybe it was the energy of the moment, the history surrounding us. It took multiple takes because, of course, a king cannot be seen crying."
Working with Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna
Vicky is all praise for his co-stars, particularly Akshaye Khanna, who plays Aurangzeb.
"I have admired his work for years. He brings such depth and gravitas to his roles, and to see him completely unrecognisable as Aurangzeb was incredible," he shares.
Speaking about Rashmika Mandanna, who plays Maharani Yesubai, he adds, "Laxman sir always had her in mind for the role. He was very clear that it's going to be Rashmika who's going to be playing Maharani Yesubai, because he had that vision that although she's from South of India, she would look so Maharashtrian, and he was so right about it. When I saw her in full attire, I was blown away."
And off-screen, Vicky says, "she's such a warm and positive person—it made working with her a joy."
Balancing authenticity with cinematic storytelling
Historical films often come under scrutiny for their depiction of real events. And naturally so, says Vicky, who believes that films like Chhaava may attract scrutiny because of the sentiments attached to historical events and figures that are portrayed in the film.
"When a story carries immense cultural and emotional weight, scrutiny is natural," he said. "And I feel that, it is a very healthy dialogue to have. The responsibility lies on us as makers to be completely authentic. Of course, there'll be those kind of leaps that would be taken for a cinematic experience. Because apart from giving information, apart from telling a story, we also have to entertain the audience. So such leaps are obviously taken, but without compromising the authenticity of the film."
For Vicky Kaushal, Chhaava is more than just a film—it's an experience that will stay with him forever."I hope that when people watch the film, they feel the same energy and passion that we felt while making it," he said.
And if there's one quality of Sambhaji Maharaj that Vicky relates to the most, it is "his courage," he says, "For me, it was also the most inspiring thing that I got to feel when I was playing the part."