Chhaava (2025): Vicky Kaushal Delivers Career Best

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj won 120 battles against the Mughal Empire. Aurangzeb captured him after a nine year pursuit. Sambhaji endured weeks of torture without yielding. He chose death over conversion. This story remains a powerful part of Indian history. Chhaava brings this history to a global audience. Laxman Utekar directed the film for Maddock Films. 

It was released on February 14, 2025. The movie earned 808 crore worldwide. It stands as the highest grossing Hindi film of 2025. Vicky Kaushal portrays Sambhaji Maharaj. Akshaye Khanna plays Aurangzeb. The film is grand and worth your time.

Chhaava (2025) Movie Details

Chhaava 2025: Who Was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj?

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was the second ruler of the Maratha Empire. He was the son of Shivaji Maharaj. Aurangzeb expected the Maratha resistance to collapse in 1680. Sambhaji took the throne and fought with ferocity. He attacked the strategic Burhanpur fort.

 He used guerilla warfare across the Deccan. Sambhaji held the Mughal army at bay for nine years. He fought over 120 battles and lost none. He protected the idea of self rule. Internal betrayal led to his capture in 1689. 

Aurangzeb tortured him for weeks to force a conversion and reveal treasures. Sambhaji refused every demand. Aurangzeb executed him with extreme brutality. This death hardened the Maratha resistance. The Marathas fought for decades until Aurangzeb died in 1707. The film Chhaava covers these years and the Battle of Burhanpur. It focuses on the conflict and the capture of Sambhaji.

Chhaava 2025 Story and Plot Explained

Sambhaji takes the throne after the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Aurangzeb expects the Maratha Empire to fracture quickly. Sambhaji leads a successful assault on the Mughal garrison at Burhanpur. This victory humiliates Aurangzeb. 

The Emperor moves his full imperial army into the Deccan. A nine year battle begins across multiple fronts. Marathas use speed and terrain to survive against a larger force. Internal threats emerge from Sambhaji’s family. His stepmother Soyarabai conspires to remove him. 

A betrayal from his brother in law leads to his capture. Kavi Kalash remains a loyal advisor during the climax. He refuses to betray Sambhaji during torture. The final act depicts the capture and execution of the Maratha king. This sequence follows historical records with brutal accuracy.

Chhaava 2025 Review: What the Film Gets Right

• Vicky Kaushal gives the best performance of his career. He physically transformed for this role. His armour in the opening battle sequence weighs 17 to 18 kilograms. His portrayal of Sambhaji captures three different qualities simultaneously: the warrior, the king, and the man who knows he may not survive. The climax sequence is particularly devastating. He never asks for your sympathy. He earns it.
• Akshaye Khanna’s Aurangzeb is one of the finest villain portrayals in recent Bollywood. He uses restraint where most actors would overplay. He eats grapes. He speaks softly. His eyes carry more menace than any raised voice could. The Hindu called his performance a cold-blooded counterpoint to Kaushal’s intensity. Both assessments are right.
• Divya Dutta as Soyarabai deserves more credit than most reviews give her. She plays a woman consumed by ambition and maternal obsession. Her scenes with Kaushal carry genuine tension. Vineet Kumar Singh as Kavi Kalash has limited screen time but maximum impact. His dialogue delivery in the final act stays with you after the film ends.
• The production design is exceptional. Costume designer Sheetal Sharma sourced authentic Paithani sarees and restored 500-year-old borders for Rashmika Mandanna’s character. The jewellery and Sambhaji’s sword Bhavani were recreated from museum references in London. The weight of history sits in every frame.
• The Battle of Burhanpur sequence in the first act sets the tone correctly. It is loud, chaotic, and large. The film does not start gently. It puts you inside the battle immediately and trusts you to keep up.
• The film brings a forgotten chapter of Indian history to a mainstream Hindi audience. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is revered in Maharashtra but largely unknown elsewhere in India. Chhaava changes that. Three crore people bought tickets.

Chhaava 2025: Where the Film Falls Short

The first half of the film runs slow. Pacing between the Battle of Burhanpur and the capture of Sambhaji takes too long. Repetitive battle sequences need a sharper editor to tighten the long runtime. 

Rashmika Mandanna performs well in emotional scenes as Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale. Her co-stars overshadow her because the screenplay serves the male story. Reviewers from The Hindu note this imbalance. A.R. Rahman provides a competent score lacking iconic status. Songs like Jaane Tu and Aaya Re Toofan remain forgettable. 

CGI in wide battle shots looks noticeably digital and falls below the quality of close combat scenes. The film takes creative liberties with historical events. Historians and Marathi scholars identify specific inaccuracies. This adaptation follows Shivaji Sawant’s novel rather than strict historical documents. The CBFC disclaimer acknowledges these choices honestly.

Chhaava 2025 Historical Controversy and Nagpur Riots

Riots broke out in Nagpur on March 17, 2025. Right wing groups demanded the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the violence. He linked political tension to the film’s portrayal of Aurangzeb. 

This film presents a Maratha perspective on a Maratha hero. It does not claim historical balance. The CBFC disclaimer states the film adapts a novel and avoids distorting facts. Chhaava functions as a cinematic tribute to a warrior. The story deserves an audience.

Chhaava (2025) Full Cast

A large ensemble anchored by two career-defining performances.

Where to Watch Chhaava (2025): Stream on Netflix Now

Chhaava streams on Netflix worldwide. It released on the platform on April 11, 2025, following its theatrical run.

You can stream Chhaava online on Netflix with any standard subscription. Watch it in Hindi for the full experience. The IMAX theatrical version delivered higher visual impact, but the Netflix stream carries the story fully. If you watch on a large screen TV with good sound, the battle sequences land properly.

Chhaava 2025 Review Score Breakdown

Scored across six categories based on the full viewing experience.

An 8 out of 10 reflects a film that earns its spectacle and its emotion through performance, not just production. Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna push this film above where the screenplay alone would have taken it.

Chhaava 2025: What Critics Are Saying

The film received mixed critical reviews but strong audience reception. Here is how five publications assessed it.

Chhaava 2025 vs Other Bollywood Historical Films

Where does Chhaava sit alongside the best Bollywood period dramas of the last decade?

FAQs

These are the most searched questions about Chhaava (2025), answered directly.

What is Chhaava (2025) about?

Chhaava tells the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire and son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film covers his nine-year battle against Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, his attack on Burhanpur fort, the betrayal that led to his capture, and his execution in 1689. Chhaava means lion cub in Marathi.

Who plays Sambhaji Maharaj in Chhaava?

Vicky Kaushal plays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He prepared extensively for the role, including physical transformation and historical research. His armour in the opening battle scene weighed 17 to 18 kilograms. Most reviewers and audiences called it the best performance of his career.

Who plays Aurangzeb in Chhaava?

Akshaye Khanna plays Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb under heavy prosthetics and makeup. He was not the original choice. Director Laxman Utekar had approached Anil Kapoor for the role before Khanna joined in October 2023. Khanna’s portrayal received strong critical praise across multiple publications.

Is Chhaava based on a true story?

Yes. Chhaava is based on the real life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and adapted from the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant. The CBFC required a disclaimer acknowledging the adaptation and clarifying that the film does not aim to distort historical facts. Some events are fictionalised for dramatic purposes.

Where can you stream Chhaava?

Chhaava streams on Netflix worldwide. The OTT release happened on April 11, 2025. You can also rent or buy it on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies.

How much did Chhaava earn at the box office?

Chhaava earned 808 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025. India net collection was 601.50 crore. The opening weekend was 121.43 crore in three days, the highest 3-day opening of 2025 in India. The film is classified as an All-Time Blockbuster.

What controversy did Chhaava cause?

On March 17, 2025, riots broke out in Nagpur. Right-wing groups including Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal demanded the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Aurangabad. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed for calm and condemned the violence. The film’s portrayal of the Maratha-Mughal conflict was cited as a contributing factor in the political tension.

Is Chhaava better than Tanhaji?

Most audience polls and box office numbers suggest Chhaava made a larger cultural impact than Tanhaji. Chhaava earned 808 crore worldwide versus Tanhaji’s 279 crore. However, many critics found Tanhaji’s pacing tighter and its screenplay more focused. Both films cover Maratha history and both feature powerful villains. Which is better depends on what you value more: emotional scale or narrative discipline.

What is the meaning of Chhaava?

Chhaava means lion cub in Marathi. The title refers to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the cub of the lion Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The symbolism runs through the entire film. Sambhaji maims a lion in one of the early scenes. The title is also drawn directly from Shivaji Sawant’s Marathi novel of the same name.

Final Verdict

Chhaava is not a perfect film. The first half drags. The score underdelivers. Some CGI falls short. Rashmika Mandanna deserved more to work with.

None of that matters when Vicky Kaushal is on screen.

He plays a man who held an empire at bay for nine years and chose death over surrender. That is not a small story. Kaushal makes you feel the full weight of it. And when Akshaye Khanna’s Aurangzeb faces him across the frame, you watch two actors in complete command of their craft.

Three crore people bought tickets to this film in India alone. They were not wrong. The story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj belongs on the largest screen available. Netflix is a reasonable second option.

Stream it tonight. Watch the opening battle with the sound up. Stay through the final act. Then look up what actually happened to Aurangzeb in the Deccan after 1689.