Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, has recently made headlines for unexpected reasons. Although the historical drama has emerged as a box office success, it is now linked to the violence that erupted in Nagpur during protests concerning the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. While the film’s team has chosen to remain silent on the matter, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has come forward to defend the film against the backlash.
In a statement on social media, director Vivek Agnihotri expressed his views, stating, “The #UrbanNaxal ecosystem is waging a cultural jihad against our films—#TheKashmirFiles and #Chhaava are under attack because they dare to awaken the nation. Defeat them in this battle.” His comments were made in response to allegations that Chhaava, along with other films such as The Kashmir Files and The Sabarmati Report, is contributing to social polarization.
One social media user remarked that such films exacerbate societal divides, to which Agnihotri retorted, “Before #TheKashmirFiles, society wasn’t polarized at all. Muslim terrorists in Kashmir were helping Hindus find their houses and the corpses of their loved ones. JKLF never existed. See how in Bengal, Islamists help in bringing down hanging bodies of Hindu women from trees.”
The controversy intensified after a protest in Nagpur called for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Reports indicated that during the demonstration, an effigy of the Mughal ruler was burned alongside a green cloth. However, rumors quickly circulated that a holy book had also been set ablaze, escalating tensions and leading to riots. In response, authorities imposed a curfew in several areas of Nagpur to maintain order.Regarding Chhaava, the film, based on a book of the same name, highlights the bravery of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Rane as he continues his fight for Swarajya against the Mughal Empire and Aurangzeb.
