Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal has found himself at the centre of controversy after his film Chhaava was blamed for the ongoing violence in Nagpur.
Speaking in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, CM Fadnavis said the Kaushal-starrer film ‘Chhaava’, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, reignited people’s emotions against the Mughal emperor. However, the actor’s fans and supporters have come forward in his defence, dismissing the allegations as ‘unfair and misguided’.
A section of social media users has criticised those holding Kaushal responsible, arguing that Chhaava does not incite violence but rather highlights themes of ‘betrayal and internal division’. One user wrote, “It is very wrong to blame Vicky Kaushal for Nagpur Violence.” Another pointed out, “holding Vicky Kaushal responsible for the Nagpur violence is completely unfair and misdirected. He is an actor who p’ortrayed a historical figure in Chhaava—a film that went through multiple approvals before release. If certain narratives in the movie have triggered strong reactions, the discussion should be around historical interpretation, public discourse, and governance, not on targeting an individual performer.”
Another said that the film portrays its protagonist being betrayed by his own aides rather than the Mughals, refuting claims that it stirs communal tensions. The tweet read, “The recent violence in Nagpur is unfairly being blamed on Vicky Kaushal’s movie Chava. it actually shows that he was BETRAYED by his close aides ( jealous and greedy), not by the Mughals. The story highlights internal betrayal and division among his own people.”
Another called to mind the actor being celebrated as a ‘hero’ for his work on the war film ‘URI’. In a tweet, the fan wrote, “@vickykaushal09 was once considered a patriot, hero and true indian when he acted in #Uri Movie. Now, he’s considered The recent violence in Nagpur is unfairly being blamed on Vicky Kaushal’s movie Chava.”
Another user mocked the outrage and linked it to the reason why Bollywood keeps churning out the kind of films it does. In a tweet, the person wrote, “The way Vicky Kaushal is blamed, hated and targeted for playing a historical character, and a certain section insinuating the role led to Nagpur violence – that’s what is exactly wrong with people & mindset . Exactly that! No wonder Bollywood just focuses on poos and Poojas!”
Others rooted for the real people responsible for the violence to be brought to justice. “The planners and rioters are the only ones who should be blamed,” they said in a tweet.
“People blaming Vicky Kaushal for the Nagpur incident just proves one thing—common sense isn’t common anymore,” added another
Despite the backlash, neither Kaushal nor the filmmakers have responded to the allegations. On Tuesday, netizens called for the ‘boycott’ of Vicky and his future film projects.
Meanwhile, the film is enjoying an undisputed run at the box office. According to reports, the movie has surpassed the Rs 560 crore mark at the Indian box office in 5 weeks. It is also now Vicky’s first Rs 500 crore film and his highest-earning film to date.
