Vicky Kaushal starrer Chhaava becomes 9th highest-grossing Hindi film, beats Aamir Khan's Dangal, to soon enter ₹400 cr club

Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava has become an unstopabble storm, rampaging through the box office and raking in a whopping ₹386.25 crore in just 13 days, according to the data from Sacnilk.

As of Thursday, the film’s 13 days worldwide collection stood at jaw-dropping ₹540.35 crore. With this momentum on its side, Chhaava is all set to breach into the ₹400 crore club.

As of Wednesday, the film recorded an overall 34.43% Hindi theatre occupancy, while Pune kept the momentum high with over 50% occupancy. Meanwhile, NCR trailed behind with a 25.75% overall occupancy. Even after 13 days in theatres, the film remains high in its shows with over 6,000 shows running across India, with highest occupancy rates in Maharashtra.

Chhaava, an historical epic about the battle between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire, has struck a deep chord with audiences in Maharashtra, especially as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the film's titular protagonist, is revered as a hero in the state. Following its huge success in Hindi, Chhaava is also gearing up for a Telugu release on March 7, driven by audience demand, the production company Maddock revealed.

The Laxman Utekar-directed film has also blazed its way into history, cementing itself as the 9th biggest hit in Hindi cinema.

In its meteoric rise, it has eclipsed some of Bollywood’s iconic blockbusters, including Aamir Khan’s Dangal (₹375 crore), Ranbir Kapoor’s Sanju (₹343 crore), Aamir Khan’s PK (₹340 crore) and Salman Khan’ Tiger Zinda Hai (₹339 crore).

Recently, controversy has erupted around Chhaava, with the descendants of Maharashtra’s historic Shirke family voicing strong objections on Monday, warning that family members might take to the streets to protest over alleged inaccuracies in Chhaava.

The Shirkes claim that the film wrongfully portrays their ancestors, Maratha commanders Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke, as betraying Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, ultimately leading to his capture by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The film delves into Chatrapati Sambhaji’s valour, strategic brilliance, and his resistance against the Mughal Empire. Rashmika Mandanna plays the female lead, marking her first historical role. With grand visuals, intense battle sequences, and a gripping narrative, Chhaava, as per many reviews, brings to life the legacy of one of India’s most formidable warrior kings.