Actress Swara Bhasker has once again found herself at the centre of controversy after commenting on the audience’s emotional and impassioned reactions to a gruesome torture scene in Vicky Kaushal’s historical drama ‘Chhaava‘.
Taking to social media, Swara compared the audience’s intense emotional response to the film’s depiction of Sambhaji’s torture by the Mughals to what she described as the silence surrounding real-life tragedies like stampedes and mishandling of corpses.
Swara tweeted, “A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished, partly fictionalised filmy torture of Hindus from 500 years ago than they are at the horrendous death by stampede & mismanagement + then alleged JCB bulldozer handling of corpses – is a brain & soul-dead society #IYKYK.”
Her tweet sparked a heated debate online. While some supported her views, calling attention to the preference for cinematic drama over real-world issues, others vehemently disagreed, arguing that the film’s emotional impact stems from its portrayal of historical bravery and sacrifice.
One user commented, “100% yes! People love good drama, not reality. It seems everyone is running away from reality only to submerge in dramatic celluloid stories.” Another echoed similar sentiments, asking, “Are we more comfortable debating fiction than confronting the grim realities of our times?”
However, many opposed her stance. A netizen argued, “The tears you see are not of simple grief but of profound respect and gratitude for those who ensured that the cultural and religious identity of Bharat remained vibrant.” Others resorted to trolling, stating, “Comparing a genocide by monster Mughals with a stampede is laughable.”
Another added, “This highlights the complexity of emotions and sensitivities in navigating both past events and present crises.”
Meanwhile, ‘Chhaava’ continues its stellar run at the Indian box office. According to Sacnilk, the film has surpassed the Rs 165 crore mark and is on track to becoming the first Bollywood film of 2025 to cross Rs 200 crore.