Ever since the trailer for Laxman Utekar's Chhaava dropped, the film has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Vicky Kaushal believes this movie could be the turning point in his career. Rashmika Mandanna takes on the role of Maharani Yesubai, Akshaye Khanna plays Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, and Vicky himself portrays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in this period action drama.

Laxman Utekar gives a shoutout to Akshaye Khanna for his role as Aurangzeb

In a chat with Bollywood Hungama, Laxman praised Akshaye as one of the top talents in Bollywood right now. Even though he didn’t have much screen time in the trailer, the director couldn’t stop raving about Akshaye’s role as Aurangzeb. He mentioned that the way Akshaye plays Aurangzeb might leave the audience feeling uneasy. According to Laxman, Akshaye’s eyes express so much more than his dialogue ever could.

Laxman was asked how he managed to get the actor, who typically only does a few films, to join the project. After visiting Akshaye's place in Alibaug, the filmmaker joked about how simple it was. Laxman said the actor is just a really warm and friendly person. Even though he doesn't take on a lot of work, he puts his heart into everything he does.

Vicky Kaushal shares his thoughts on his role and the clash between Aurangzeb and Sambhaji

Aurangzeb spent nine years tracking down Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Vicky shared, discussing his time working with Akshaye. This quest is a major theme in the film. While Vicky and Akshaye share a few scenes, the movie mainly highlights their anticipation to finally meet, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats for that showdown. Vicky's portrayal adds a layer of slyness and cleverness to Aurangzeb, which contrasts nicely with the fierce presence of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

Interestingly, the day they filmed their scene was also the first time they met as characters, Laxman pointed out, noting that the two actors had never crossed paths before their intense confrontation. Vicky added that they didn’t have any personal interactions before shooting—no greetings or farewells exchanged. They dove straight into the scene, with Akshaye as Aurangzeb and Vicky as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Vicky mentioned that he didn’t communicate with his senior co-star at all during that time.

Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna didn't have any personal interactions while they were shooting

In situations like these, you can't just chill together, sip tea, and jump into filming whenever you're set. It shows that things didn't flow naturally. While shooting, Vicky and Akshaye didn't exchange a word, but he’s looking forward to chatting with him once the movie releases. The director mentioned that both actors completely avoided interacting. They were so deep into their characters that they didn’t even glance at one another.

Chhaava is set to hit theaters on February 14, 2025.

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