Chhaava director Laxman Utekar apologize to Ganoji, Kanhoji Shirke’s descendants after Rs 100 cr defamation case

Laxman Utekar, the director of the film Chhaava, has issued an apology to the descendants of Maratha warriors Ganoji and Kanhoji Shirke after they accused the movie of portraying the duo in a negative light and damaging their family’s reputation.

Chhaava director Laxman Utekar apologises to Shirke descendants

In his apology, Utekar stated, “We have only mentioned the names of Ganoji and Kanhoji in Chhaava, without referring to their surname.” The film, featuring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has received acclaim nationwide. It has sparked a backlash from the Shirke family, who have threatened to file a defamation suit worth Rs 100 crore.

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Descendants claimed it tarnished family’s reputation

Chhaava depicts a plot where Ganoji and Kanhoji, close allies of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, betray him by collaborating with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, leading to his brutal demise. Following the film’s release, Laxmikant Raje Shirke, the 13th descendant of the Shirke warriors, criticized the filmmakers for what he described as a blatant misinterpretation of historical facts. “It tarnishes the family’s reputation. Hence, we have issued a notice to the film director and will file a defamation case of Rs 100 crore against him,” he said in an official statement.

On February 20, the Shirke family sent a notice to Utekar requesting clarification and urging him to amend the film. According to local news portal Pudhari, Utekar reached out to Bhushan Shirke, one of the descendants, to apologize for any hurt caused to the family. He clarified that the last names of Ganoji and Kanhoji, as well as their village, were deliberately omitted from the film to avoid any offence.“Our intention was never to harm the sentiments of the Shirke family. I sincerely apologize if Chhaava caused any distress,” he reportedly told Shirke.

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The Shirke family has also indicated that they will initiate statewide protests if their grievances are not addressed.

About Chhaava

Meanwhile, Chhaava has become a commercial success, amassing Rs 326 crore in India by the end of its second weekend, making it the highest-grossing film of Vicky Kaushal’s career. The movie also features Rashmika Mandanna as Yesubai Bhosale, Vineet Kumar Singh as Kavi Kalash, and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb, among others.

Also Read: Chhaava Box Office Day 10: Vicky Kaushal’s period drama eyes Rs 50 crore single-day feat in sight for 2nd Sunday