Vicky Kaushal’s film has not sat right with the descendants of Maratha warriors Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke.
Chhaava was released on February 14. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava has proven to be a significant film in his career as fans cannot stop lauding his performance as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film is also doing well at the box office and Vicky Kaushal is taking every moment to celebrate his achievement. However, the film is also not free from its share of controversy.
Vicky Kaushal took to Instagram recently to share a compilation video of his ‘roaring’ performance in the film. He captioned the post, “Sher ki DAHAAAD!!! 🔥🔥🔥 #Chhaava In Cinemas.” Check out the video here:
Meanwhile, the descendants of Maratha warriors Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke have raised objections to the portrayal of their ancestors, claiming that it is unfair and misleading. In Chhaava, a crucial moment in the story portrays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s trusted allies, Ganoji and Kanhoji, betraying him by joining forces with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. This leads to the Maratha ruler’s death. However, this depiction hasn’t gone down well with the warriors’ descendants, who believe it unfairly tarnishes their legacy.
Laxmikant Raje Shirke, the 13th descendant of Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke, strongly criticised the filmmakers for blatant “misinterpretation of historical facts.” He expressed his disappointment, stating that the portrayal unfairly damages his family’s legacy. He also announced that they had issued a legal notice to the director and would be filing a Rs 100 crore defamation lawsuit against him.
The Shirke family also formally sent a notice to Laxman Utekar, requesting clarification regarding the film’s portrayal of their ancestors. They also urged him to make the necessary corrections. Reportedly, director Laxman Utekar reached out to Bhushan Shirke, one of the descendants, to apologise for any unintentional hurt caused to the family. He also clarified that the film did not explicitly mention the last names or the village names of Ganoji and Kanhoji. Meanwhile, the Shirke family has made it clear that if their concerns are not addressed and their demands remain unmet, they will escalate the matter with statewide protests.
