- By Srishti Pandey
- Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Swara Bhasker has once again found herself at the centre of controversy over her remarks on the historical drama Chhaava. The actress compared the public outrage over the film’s depiction of the torture of Hindus to the reaction to the Mahakumbh stampede, sparking a strong backlash.
In a post on X, Bhasker 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.” The statement, made on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, drew criticism from historians, journalists, and legal professionals alike.
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
Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, Chhaava stars Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj. Rashmika Mandanna plays Maharani Yesubai, while Akshaye Khanna portrays Aurangzeb. The film is based on the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant and has been performing well in theatres.
The movie portrays the brutal torture and execution of Sambhaji Maharaj by Mughal forces. Historical accounts state that Sambhaji was asked to surrender his forts and convert to Islam, which he refused. This led to his gruesome execution, a pivotal event in Maratha history.
Swati Chaturvedi, a journalist, responded to Bhasker’s post, stating, “Rethink this tweet, Swara. I am a student of history from Delhi University, and nothing remotely fictional about the torture inflicted by Aurangzeb on Sambhaji Maharaj before he murdered him. Let’s not play games with history.”
Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehradai also condemned Bhasker’s remarks, calling them deeply offensive. He wrote, “How dare you seek to make light of the supreme sacrifice made by Sambhaji Maharaj? Your statement, that too on Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary, is clearly aimed at insulting millions of Indians and creating strife.” He even suggested legal action against the actress.
Several social media users also criticized Bhasker’s remarks. A user named Rishi Bagree countered her claims by saying that the film did not even depict the full extent of Sambhaji Maharaj’s suffering. Another user, Nitendra, accused her of hypocrisy, saying, “So now, Hindus caring about their history and reclaiming their narrative makes them ‘brain & soul-dead’? But crying about Mughal glorification and victimhood politics is ‘intellectual activism’?”
This is not the first time Bhasker has faced criticism for her opinions. Earlier, she slammed those questioning her wardrobe choices after her marriage to Fahad Ahmad. She sarcastically referred to the debate as a ‘national cyber issue.’ The actress also previously claimed that her outspoken nature on social media had cost her career opportunities.