Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna didn’t talk to each other during the shooting of their upcoming historical-drama Chhaava. Vicky plays Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj while Akshaye essays the role of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the Laxman Utekar directorial.
In order to stay true to their characters and their historical authenticity, the two actors didn’t greet each other as Vicky Kaushal or Akshaye Khanna on set. Laxman revealed in an interaction to Bollywood Hungama, “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. Both of them were so immersed in their characters, they didn’t even want to see each other’s faces.”
Vicky added, “When we were shooting that scene, 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.”
Vicky said that he hopes to talk to Akshaye after the film’s release as he didn’t get a chance during the shoot. “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,” he said.
Vicky praised Akshaye’s portrayal of Aurangzeb in the film and said, “The muted sliminess and cunningness that he has brought into the character of Aurangzeb has blended beautifully with the roar of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.”
Chhaava also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, Vineet Kumar Singh, Diana Penty, and Santosh Juvekar in pivotal roles. Produced by Dinesh Vijan, it is set to be released in theatres on February 14.