Mahesh Manjrekar Says Maharashtra Drove Chhaava’s Success, Not Vicky Kaushal’s Stardom
While the Hindi film industry struggles at the box office, Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava stood out as a massive success, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 with earnings crossing Rs 800 crore. Many have praised Vicky’s intense portrayal of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for the film’s phenomenal run, but actor and filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar offered a contrasting perspective.
Speaking with Mirchi Marathi, Mahesh Manjrekar emphasized that the real credit for Chhaava’s success goes to the emotional connection Maharashtra’s audience has with the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj — not Vicky’s star power.
“Vicky Kaushal is a very fine actor. His film Chhaava collected Rs 800 crore. But Vicky Kaushal can never say people came to see him. Otherwise, they would have come for his previous five films too, which didn’t perform well,” Manjrekar remarked.
He further added, “It’s Maharashtra that saved the Hindi film industry. Today, Chhaava is thriving, and 80 to 90 percent of the credit goes to Maharashtra — especially Pune — for supporting the film. Maharashtra’s deep cultural and historical connect with the story brought audiences to theatres.”
While acknowledging Vicky’s talent, Mahesh firmly rooted Chhaava’s unprecedented success in regional pride and the enduring admiration for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
