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Chhaava writer Rishi Virmani reacts after AR Rahman calls the Vicky Kaushal starrer divisive. He says films cannot change an entire mindset in hours.
After AR Rahman described Chhaava as “divisive,” writer Rishi Virmani responds, saying films cannot alter mindsets and audiences think for themselves.
Weeks after composer AR Rahman described Chhaava as “divisive” and acknowledged that some of the criticism surrounding the film had merit, writer Rishi Virmani has weighed in on the debate. The historical epic, directed by Laxman Utekar, may have stormed the box office, but it also found itself at the centre of a wider political and cultural conversation.
Virmani, however, does not believe cinema alone has the power to reshape deeply rooted beliefs.
“An Entire Mindset Cannot Be Changed In A Few Hours”
Addressing the allegations that the film fueled division, Virmani dismissed the idea that a two-and-a-half-hour film could meaningfully alter public consciousness.
“It is hard to believe that an entire mindset can be changed in just a couple of hours of screen time,” he said during a conversation with Zoom.
Emphasising that audiences are capable of independent thought, he added that history has repeatedly shown viewers rejecting or embracing films in ways that defy industry expectations.
“I have not seen this kind of attachment of the audience towards a film in a really long time,” Virmani noted, highlighting the emotional response Chhaava generated among viewers.
A Cinematic Tribute To Sambhaji
Chhaava chronicles the life of Sambhaji, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, and is adapted from the Marathi novel of the same name by acclaimed author Shivaji Sawant. The screenplay was written by Laxman Utekar and Rishi Virmani, along with Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan. Virmani also penned the film’s dialogues.
Reflecting on the historical figure at the centre of the story, Virmani said Sambhaji deserved cinematic recognition much earlier.
“I hope and pray that Chhaava and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj make it to everyone’s hearts, nationally and internationally,” he stated.
The film starred Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai Bhonsale, and Akshaye Khanna as Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. AR Rahman composed the music and background score, with cinematography by Saurabh Goswami and editing by Manish Pradhan.
Mounted on a reported budget of Rs 130 crore, the film grossed Rs 807.91 crore worldwide, according to Sacnilk. It emerged as the third-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, trailing behind Dhurandhar (Rs 1,305.35 crore) and Kantara: Chapter 1 (Rs 852.36 crore).
Controversy And Political Fallout
Despite its commercial success, Chhaava was not without controversy. The film was linked to communal unrest in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly remarked that the movie “ignited people’s anger against Aurangzeb.”
Earlier, AR Rahman had also acknowledged the sensitive reception of the film in an interview with BBC Asian Network.
“It is a divisive film. I think it cashed in on divisiveness, but I think the core of it is to show bravery,” Rahman said. He revealed that he had questioned why he was chosen for the project. “I had asked the director: ‘Why did he need me for this film?’ He replied, ‘We need only you for this.’ It is an enjoyable film, but definitely, people are smarter than that. Do you think people are going to get influenced by movies? They have something called internal conscience, which knows what the truth is, and what manipulation is.”
As the debate continues, Chhaava stands as both a box office triumph and a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about history, cinema and public sentiment.
February 22, 2026, 20:11 IST
