Chhaava: Vicky Kaushal opens up on the contentious dance sequence deleted by the makers

The actor Vicky Kaushal, whose character Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj participated in a lezim dance routine in the upcoming movie Chhaava that caused controversy, claimed on Thursday that the segment had been removed as part of the filmmakers’ attempt to promote Maharashtra culture globally.

After certain lawmakers and history buffs objected to the film’s trailer’s video, Laxman last week declared that they will cut out any depictions of lezim, a folk dance from the state of Maharashtra that uses a small musical instrument of the same name.

Vicky, who spoke to the media in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, claimed that the actors and staff of Chhaava had pure intentions from the beginning.

“Not a single day went by when we didn’t start work on the film without the Shivgarjana (slogans about the courage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj). The lezim part was just for 20-30 seconds (in the film). It was not just a (part of the) story, but it was an effort to take our culture to the globe.”

“Sambhaji Maharaj was a king of the people, and if someone asked him to play (lezim) with them, the king would definitely oblige. But if his followers feel it was a bit off… It is not important to the movie’s story, so we have removed it,” the actor said to the reporters.

In addition, Akshaye Khanna plays Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the antagonist, and Rashmika Mandanna plays Maharani Yesubai. After Zara Hatke Zara Bachke in 2023, this is Kaushal’s second collaboration with Utekar. Produced by Maddock Films, Chhaava will be released on February 14.