Vicky Kaushal’s epic drama ‘Chhaava’ has taken the box office by storm, registering a record-breaking opening of ₹31 crore on February 14, 2025.
This makes it the biggest opener of the year so far, surpassing ‘Sky Force’ (₹15.30 crore) and ‘Gully Boy’ (₹19.40 crore on Valentine’s Day 2019).
Despite mixed reviews, the Laxman Utekar directorial continues to perform well, with audiences praising the performances of Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna.While Vicky Kaushal leads the film as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, his paycheck also stands out. According to Koimoi reports, the actor was paid a whopping Rs 10 crore, nearly seven percent of the film’s budget. Interestingly, this matches his fee for Bad Newz but is lower than the Rs 12 crore he earned for URI: The Surgical Strike. Meanwhile, Rashmika Mandanna, who plays Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale, received Rs 4 crore.
However, what has left fans surprised is Akshaye Khanna’s salary. The veteran actor, who portrays Aurangzeb in ‘Chhaava’, was reportedly paid Rs 2.5 crore, five times less than Vicky’s fee. While it marks an increase from his Rs 2 crore remuneration for ‘Drishyam 2’, netizens believe his performance in ‘Chhaava’ deserved a higher paycheck.Other supporting cast members also had varying paychecks, with Ashutosh Rana reportedly earning Rs 80 lakh for his role as Hambirrao Mohite and Divya Dutta receiving Rs 45 lakh for playing Rajmata Soyarabai Bhosale. Meanwhile, the film has earned 3.5 stars from ETimes with an official review from us that reads, “The women don’t get as much screen space. The immensely talented Divya Dutta as Maharani Soyarabai has a powerful presence and deserved a meatier role. Rashmika Mandanna looks the part but struggles to get her language, accent and emotions right.
Diana Penty turns out to be the biggest disappointment. She barely gets to speak but when she does, her stone-faced performance distracts you from the most intense scenes. ‘Chhaava’’s excellence lies in its gripping second half and a terrific climax. Vicky Kaushal is breathtaking as he exudes Sambhaji Maharaj’s valour and passion for swaraj like it were his second skin. You just wish the film relied and trusted its solid story more than Rahman’s music, which largely feels out of place.”