Swara Bhasker, known for her candid and politically active stance on social media, recently sparked a controversy with a tweet addressing the outrage over the portrayal of torture in Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava. In the film, Kaushal plays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, and the depiction of historical events has stirred heated debates. Swara, in her tweet on February 19, slammed the disproportionate outrage over the film’s portrayal of Hindu torture from 500 years ago while pointing out that there was less concern over recent tragedies, like the stampede deaths. She wrote, “A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished, partly fictionalised, filmy torture of Hindus from 500 years ago than they are at the horrendous death by stampede & mismanagement + then alleged JCB bulldozer handling of corpses – is a brain & soul-dead society. #IYKYK.”
Also Read: Unstoppable Vicky Kaushal! Chhaava continues to dominate the Box Office
Online Debate and Strong Reactions
Swara’s tweet quickly ignited a fierce debate online. Many users disagreed with her comparison between the fictionalized depiction of history in Chhaava and the recent stampede tragedy. One user responded, “You might want to flip open a history book. Sambhaji Maharaj’s reign, his resistance against Aurangzeb, and his brutal execution in 1689 are well documented, not dreamt up.” They further emphasized that the atrocities committed during the Mughal era were not fictional but were supported by contemporary sources, such as the Maasir-i-Alamgiri.
On the other hand, some users expressed their offense at Swara’s comments, particularly her portrayal of the torture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as fictional. One commenter criticized her by saying, “Living in Maharashtra and the audacity to call the torture on Chhatrapati Shivaji by barbarian Mughals as fictional! So unfaithful!” Another person urged political leaders to take action against Swara’s controversial statements.
Chhaava’s Box-Office Success
Despite the ongoing debate, Chhaava has been a success at the box office. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film, which also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna, is set to enter the coveted Rs 200 crore club, further solidifying its popularity with audiences. The film’s historical portrayal continues to divide opinions, with Swara Bhasker’s comments adding fuel to the fire.
A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished partly fictionalised filmy torture of Hindus from 500 years ago than they are at the horrendous death by stampede & mismanagement + then alleged JCB bulldozer handling of corpses – is a brain & soul-dead society. #IYKYK
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) February 18, 2025
