From Box Office Boom to Courtroom Doom: 'Chhaava' Battles Maratha Might

Vicky Kaushal's blockbuster 'Chhaava' has ignited a firestorm of controversy, facing a staggering Rs 100 crore defamation lawsuit threat from the descendants of Maratha warriors Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke. The Shirke family alleges the film falsely portrays their ancestors as traitors to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a claim that has sent shockwaves through Bollywood and historical circles alike.

 

Director Laxman Utekar, caught in the crossfire, has issued a public apology, emphasizing that the film only used first names without specifying surnames or villages. "Our intention was never to hurt the sentiments of the Shirke family," Utekar stated, attempting to douse the flames of outrage.

 

Despite the director's olive branch, the Shirke family remains unsatisfied, threatening statewide protests if their concerns go unaddressed. This high-stakes drama underscores the delicate balance filmmakers must strike when bringing historical figures to the silver screen, where artistic license clashes with ancestral pride.

 

Sources: News18, Koimoi, FilmiBeat