2025 · Film
Chhaava
Laxman Utekar's historical action epic starring Vicky Kaushal as Sambhaji, the second Maratha ruler, who leads resistance against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, played by Akshaye Khanna.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Chhaava is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
The story
After the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb expects the Maratha kingdom to collapse. Instead, Shivaji's son Sambhaji takes up the fight at once, launching a surprise attack on the Mughal province of Burhanpur. Crowned Chhatrapati and backed by his wife Yesubai and his general Hambirrao Mohite, Sambhaji has to deal with conspirators inside his own court, while Aurangzeb gathers a vast army to crush the Maratha resistance for good.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
For viewers drawn to large-scale historical war dramas about the Maratha Empire. Sources describe intense battle sequences and graphic violence including torture scenes, and the U/A 16+ certificate makes it unsuitable for younger children; its historical portrayals have been publicly debated.
Genres:HistoricalAction
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
The film is adapted from Chhava, a Marathi novel by Shivaji Sawant about Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji. Dinesh Vijan produced it under Maddock Films. It released in cinemas on 14 February 2025, including on IMAX screens, and a Telugu-dubbed version followed on 7 March 2025. Netflix began streaming it on 11 April 2025.
Wikipedia lists worldwide gross estimates of ₹797–809 crore, placing it among the highest-grossing Indian films of 2025. Its awards include Best Film and Best Actor (Vicky Kaushal) at the Zee Cine Awards. The film's depiction of history drew public responses: a lezim dance scene shown in the trailer was removed after objections from some political figures in Maharashtra, the Shirke family objected to the portrayal of their ancestors, and the director apologised for any unintended distress. Some historians have also disputed parts of its portrayal.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Historical action, Epic drama
- Runtime
- 161 min
- Certificate
- U/A 16+
- Director
- Laxman Utekar
- Cast
- Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Rashmika Mandanna
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Chhaava in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Chhaava is streaming in India on Netflix with a subscription.
- Is Chhaava in Hindi?
- Yes. Chhaava is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Chhaava suitable for children?
- Chhaava has a CBFC U/A 16+ certificate, which means it is suitable for viewers aged 16 and above; younger children should watch with a parent.
- How long is Chhaava?
- Chhaava runs for 2 hours 41 minutes (161 minutes).