March 2, 2025: An FIR has been registered in connection with the piracy of Vicky Kaushal’s period drama Chhaava, which has already crossed the Rs 500 crore mark at the box office. The complaint was lodged by Rajat Rahul Haksar, CEO of August Entertainment, an anti-piracy agency appointed by Maddock Films, who flagged over 1,800 internet links through which the film was being illegally circulated.
The case has been filed at the South Cyber Police Station under multiple sections of the law, including provisions of the Copyright Act, Cinematograph Act, and the Information Technology Act, for illegal distribution of the film. The piracy of Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar, comes at a time when the film is receiving widespread acclaim for its portrayal of the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
The film’s box office performance has been impressive, making Chhaava Vicky Kaushal’s highest-earning film, surpassing his previous hits like Uri: The Surgical Strike, Raazi, Sam Bahadur, and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. The success of the film was also acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi. He praised the film’s success and credited Marathi author Shivaji Sawant’s novel Chhava for bringing the legacy of Sambhaji Maharaj to the forefront.
Vicky Kaushal shared PM Modi’s remarks on Instagram, expressing his gratitude, while his co-star Rashmika Mandanna also thanked the Prime Minister for the recognition. The film features Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Akshaye Khanna as Emperor Aurangzeb, and Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai.
Despite the piracy issue, Chhaava continues to be a major success, capturing the hearts of audiences and critics alike.