Vicky Kaushal says he never interacted with Akshaye Khanna on Chhaava set: 'We exchanged no hellos or goodbyes'

Laxman Utekar's upcoming historical action film Chhaava has been making headlines ever since its trailer release, though not always for the right reasons, with some calling it out for historical inaccuracies in the trailer. Despite the buzz, lead actor Vicky Kaushal remains hopeful that the film will be a major milestone in his career. Chhaava features Vicky in the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, with Rashmika Mandanna portraying Maharani Yesubai and Akshaye Khanna stepping into the shoes of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who ultimately

Director Laxman Utekar, in conversation with The Indian Express, lauded Akshaye Khanna's performance, calling him one of Bollywood's finest actors.

How Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna filmed for Chhaava

Vicky Kaushal, discussing his experience working alongside Akshaye, elaborated on how their characters' journeys shape the film.

"It took Aurangzeb nine years to find and get hold of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. So, a lot of the film shows his quest to find him. There are some moments together (between Vicky and Akshaye), but the film is about them thriving to (meet each other) and that will leave you waiting for that face-off to happen," Vicky explained.

Interestingly, the two actors had never met before filming their high-stakes showdown, a creative choice that heightened the intensity of their performances. Laxman revealed, "The day their scene together was to be shot was the day when they met each other for the first time and that too as characters."

Vicky recalled how they maintained this dynamic on set: "We exchanged no good mornings or goodbyes or hellos. He was Aurangzeb and I was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and we went straight into shooting the scene. There was no communication as Vicky Kaushal to Akshaye Khanna."

Explaining why they remained distant off-camera, Vicky added, "Considering the way the scenes were, you can't do them by sitting on chairs next to each other, sipping tea and then going for the shoot when ready. So, it didn't happen organically either. I hope I get to chat with him after the movie's release, but during the shoot, we never interacted with each other."

Akshaye as Aurangzeb

"The way he (Akshaye Khanna) has played Aurangzeb will leave you frightened," Laxman remarked, adding, "He talks very little, but communicates so much with his eyes."

"Though he chooses only a few projects, whatever he commits to, he gives it his all," Laxman shared with IE.

Chhaava is set to hit theaters on February 14.

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