Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Praises Chhaava, Film on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Praises Chhaava: CM Eknath Shinde recently praised the film ‘Chhaava,’ directed by Laxman Utekar, which is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film stars Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, and is receiving tremendous box-office success.

Maharashtra's CM, Eknath Shinde, has lauded ‘Chhaava’ for its portrayal of the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film, directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Vicky Kaushal, has already made impressive collections at the box office, with the audience praising its storytelling.

Chhaava Screening on Shivaji Jayanti Praised by CM

On February 19, during the screening of ‘Chhaava’ on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde expressed his admiration for the film. He praised Vicky Kaushal's performance and said, "Today is the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Not just in Maharashtra, but across the world, wherever devotees of Lord Shiva reside, the celebrations for Shiv Jayanti are taking place. On such an occasion, the greatness and valor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj have been beautifully showcased in cinema."

He added, “I would like to thank Vicky Kaushal and Laxman Utekar for bringing to life the heroic deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, also known as Sher Shiva. I’ve been eagerly waiting to watch the film, and I feel fortunate to be able to watch it on Shiv Jayanti. I would also like to thank Vicky Kaushal and Utekar for their hard work. I hope the film is also made in Marathi, and I will certainly try to make that happen.”

CM Shinde on Making Chhaava Tax-Free in Maharashtra

On the topic of making the film tax-free, CM Shinde stated, “There is no entertainment tax on Marathi films in Maharashtra, especially historical films. Whatever needs to be done, the government will certainly support it.”

Chhaava Director Laxman Utekar on Film’s Reception

Laxman Utekar, the director of ‘Chhaava,’ shared his gratitude for the film’s reception, saying, “Everyone is happy with the film, and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make ‘Chhaava.’ People’s reactions have been incredible. Those who were unaware of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s sacrifice and dedication are now learning about his contribution to the country. When people cry after watching his sacrifice, I feel like our purpose has been fulfilled.”

He continued, “This film has been made with the blessings of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. There are many great directors in our industry, more successful and talented than me, so many more great films will continue to come in the future.”

Chhaava Inspired by Shivaji Sawant, Says Laxman Utekar

The idea for the film began after Laxman Utekar read the work of renowned writer Shivaji Sawant. Utekar shared, “After reading Shivaji Sawant’s work, I realized that Sambhaji Maharaj’s sacrifices are known to very few people. So, why not tell the world about it? When I started writing the script, Vicky Kaushal was already on my mind for the role.”

Utekar also expressed that he would move forward with CM Shinde’s suggestion of making ‘Chhaava’ in Marathi as well.

Released on February 14, 2025, ‘Chhaava’ stars Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna, Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta,  Neil Bhoopalam, Santosh Juvekar, and Pradeep Rawat. The film has already made an impressive ₹203 crore net collection within just six days of its release, and it was made with a budget of approximately ₹130 crore.

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