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By Sharad Rai
When a film manages to captivate audiences with its promos, looks, trailers, and posters before its release, it’s often considered a sign that the film will be a hit. With just a few weeks to go before its release on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025, the upcoming film Chhava is already creating a buzz. Produced under the banner of Maddock Films by Dinesh Vijan and directed by Laxman Utekar, the film’s look and poster have been unveiled, building anticipation among the audience.
Chhava: Vicky Kaushal Stars as Maratha Hero Sambhaji
Chhava stars Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, Vinit Kumar Singh, and Akshay Khanna. The film tells the historical story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son, the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. It is based on the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant, which has been translated into Hindi by Rishi Virmani, with the screenplay by Laxman Utekar.
The word Chhava in Marathi means "lion’s jaw," a term used for Sambhaji Maharaj. Vicky Kaushal plays the role of Sambhaji Maharaj, while Rashmika Mandanna portrays Queen Yesubai. Akshay Khanna plays the antagonist, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The film’s makers have released posters of the three lead actors, each one exuding a striking presence.
Vicky Kaushal’s posters have been revealed one by one, with captions like, "He is fire, he is water, he is the storm, he is the lion’s jaw of Shivaji." In these posters, Vicky is seen in his look as Sambhaji Maharaj, wielding swords in one, striking a powerful pose with a sword and shield in another, and in yet another, he is dressed in saffron attire, holding a bow and arrow.
Rashmika Mandanna appears as a regal queen, draped in heavy saris and jewelry, with one poster showing her in a deeply emotional state, tears in her eyes, dressed in a red sari. The caption reads: Behind every great king, there stands a queen of unmatched strength.
However, the most talked-about look is that of Akshay Khanna as Aurangzeb. With two distinct looks—one with a crown and the other with his hair open—Akshay’s portrayal has been drawing comparisons to Amitabh Bachchan, with many praising his performance. Fans are so impressed by his look that they believe this film will mark Akshay’s return to the spotlight.
When a film manages to etch its image in the audience’s mind even before its release, it’s often seen as a sign that it will perform well at the box office. Chhava seems to be signaling exactly that.