Did Mahesh Babu Really Reject 'Chhaava'?
The rumors suggested that Chhaava was initially pitched to Mahesh Babu, with Utekar allegedly offering him the role of Chhatrapati Shambhaji.;
Superstar Mahesh Babu has a history of turning down films that later became blockbusters, including Ghajini, Pushpa, Leader, Animal, Varsham, Idiot, and Ye Maaya Chesave. Recently, rumors surfaced that he also rejected Chhaava, the historical drama starring Vicky Kaushal. This speculation gained traction as the film, directed by Laxman Utekar, continued its massive box office success, crossing ₹200 crore within just seven days of its release.
The rumors suggested that Chhaava was initially pitched to Mahesh Babu, with Utekar allegedly offering him the role of Chhatrapati Shambhaji. However, reports claimed that Mahesh declined the project, as he was not interested in the script. Eventually, after several years, the film landed in Vicky Kaushal’s hands, and he took up the role, making it one of the biggest hits of his career.
However, putting an end to all speculation, Laxman Utekar recently clarified the truth in an interview. When asked if he had ever considered another actor for the role, he firmly denied the rumors. "Vicky Kaushal has always been my only choice for Chhaava. Even in my dreams, he has been my hero for this film," Utekar stated, shutting down the claims that Mahesh Babu was ever approached.
With this confirmation, it is now clear that the rumors surrounding Mahesh Babu’s rejection of Chhaava were baseless. While Mahesh has indeed passed on several successful projects in the past, this was never one of them. Meanwhile, Chhaava continues to soar at the box office, solidifying Vicky Kaushal’s place as one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars.
