In an exclusive conversation with The Pioneer, screenplay writer Rishi Virmani opens up about the intense creative journey behind Chhaava, the historical epic directed by Laxman Utekar. From grappling with the weight of portraying Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj authentically to shaping Aurangzeb as a cold and calculated adversary, Rishi reveals how the film balances strategy, emotion and historical truth
Tejal Sinha
ow do you write a man like fire? How do you script the son of Shivaji — a warrior-scholar whose ferocity on the battlefield was matched by the sharpness of his mind? For screenwriter Rishi Virmani, bringing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to life in the epic historical film Chhaava wasn’t just about battles and bravery — it was about grounding himself in the soil, the spirit and the silence of history.
“It’s impossible to write a historical, if you don’t feel the mitti,” points Rishi in an exclusive chat with The Pioneer. “You have to smell it, live it and earn it. That’s the only way the characters breathe.”
Known for his contributions to acclaimed projects like Chup: Revenge of the Artist, Ghoomer and now Chhaava, he calls this historical drama one of the most creatively and emotionally demanding journeys of his career. Set in the rich, layered landscape of Maratha history, Chhaava follows the incredible life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj — a tale not just of warfare, but of spirit, resilience and vision.
“For a non-Maharashtrian like me, writing Chhaava was definitely challenging,” Rishi admits as he goes on to credit the director, Laxman Utekar. “It was through him that I learned how to approach this story with complete honesty. If you can’t feel the culture of the land or the essence of the soil, then even the best scenes won’t work.”
To bring Chhaava to life, Virmani and his team embarked on an extensive research journey. Collaborating with historians, they were constantly cross-checking and verifying facts. “Many books contradicted each other. You might not find the same version of an event in two different historical texts. It was hard work to make sure what we were putting out was accurate,” he explains. Rishi, along with his team, immersed themselves in Maratha history — reading (including Marathi novel Chhava (also spelled Chhaava) by Shivaji Sawant), researching, double-checking — and working alongside him in constructing the screenplay. “In terms of liberties, we’ve not fictionalised any part of the story. We’ve tried our best to stay true to the historical narrative. We used all the information available to us and shaped the screenplay around it.”
At the heart of Chhaava is Sambhaji Maharaj — a leader of immense courage, depth and conviction. “Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj stood apart from every other warrior of the Maratha Empire,” Rishi says passionately. “He was the only man who made Aurangzeb rise from his throne and journey for a year on foot to conquer the Deccan. Until then, Aurangzeb had never felt threatened. Sambhaji changed that.”
One powerful example Virmani shares from the film is the coronation sequence. “Traditionally, a king wouldn’t leave his palace for about a month after coronation due to rituals and gatherings. But Sambhaji Maharaj decided to attack Burhanpur just days after. It was unprecedented. That action alone speaks volumes about the kind of thinker and warrior he was — strategic, fearless and unpredictable.”
Rishi emphasises that Chhaava isn’t just about battles — it’s also a deeply human story. “Sambhaji wasn’t just a warrior. He was a strategist, a scholar, a great son, a loyal friend, a devoted husband and a compassionate king. We tried to show all of these sides.”
He highlights the performance of Rashmika Mandanna, who plays Sambhaji’s queen. “She brought such strength and softness. The compassion in her eyes, the faith she shows in her husband, the decisions she makes while the king is away at war — only she could have pulled it off. She brought a beautiful balance that made our job as writers easier.” Aurangzeb’s portrayal also demanded careful consideration. “He’s someone who ruled most of the world — calm, precise, always ahead of his time. His scenes had to be written with poetic depth. His conflict with Sambhaji was one of the most powerful in the film. Both kings stand for very different ideologies, and their confrontation had to reflect that. Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna brought it alive with so much fire and pain.”
Writing dialogue for Chhaava was a delicate balancing act. For example, he quotes a line that we see Vicky Kaushal saying, “Hum Shor Nahin Karte, Seedha Shikaar Karte Hai.” The Ghoomer writer explains, “The language had to retain its purity but also remain simple enough for a modern audience to understand. We live in a world of smartphones and social media slang. My goal was to write Hindi and Urdu that’s clean and expressive. Even if someone doesn’t understand a word, they should feel the emotion through the scene.”
The film’s action sequences are rooted in the unique warfare style of the Marathas. “They were always outnumbered. Thousands versus lakhs. So they invented guerrilla warfare, known as ‘Ganimi Kava’ — strategic, surprise attacks often in disguise. Every war scene you see in Chhaava has an idea behind it. There’s no random swordplay — it’s all thought through, with deep cultural grounding.”
Despite the historical depth and epic scale, writing Chhaava didn’t start smoothly for Virmani. “The first few drafts were terrible,” he admits candidly. “I was nervous. I couldn’t figure out the zone. But by the fourth or fifth attempt, Laxman sir really liked what I wrote and I finally got the tone right. From that point, I started enjoying the process.”
The collaboration between writer and director became the backbone of the film’s storytelling. “Laxman sir had the entire film clearly mapped out in his head. We worked closely — jammed on ideas, rewrote lines on set, improved things during dubbing. Every scene kept getting better. There was clarity from day one about the kind of film we were making, and we just kept polishing it.”
While the vision came from Laxman Utekar, Rishi emphasises that Chhaava is the result of collective passion. “Every actor brought something unique to their role. The film wouldn’t have been this special if it was only one man’s effort. There was support from every corner — cast and crew alike — to bring this story to life. All the credit goes to Laxman sir. He’s the kind of leader who inspires people to give more than their best.”
