Actor Swara Bhasker has sparked controversy with her recent post comparing public outrage over the depiction of Hindu suffering in the historical film Chhaava to the reaction to the Mahakumbh stampede tragedy. Many have accused her of “insulting the sentiments of Indians.”
Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, Chhaava is a historical action film based on the life of Maratha king Sambhaji, the eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj. Vicky Kaushal plays the titular role, while Rashmika Mandanna portrays Maharani Yesubai, and Akshaye Khanna plays Aurangzeb. The film is an adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhava by Shivaji Sawant and is currently running successfully in theaters.
The movie depicts the brutal torture of Sambhaji at the hands of Mughal forces. Historical records suggest that he was given an option to surrender his forts and wealth and convert to Islam. Upon his refusal, he was subjected to horrific torture before being executed.
Swara Bhasker, known for her outspoken views, posted on X:
“A society that is more enraged at the heavily embellished partly fictionalized 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”
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
Bhasker’s remarks referred to the January 29 Mahakumbh stampede, which led to at least 30 deaths. In response, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced an ex gratia of ₹25 lakh for the families of the victims.
Her post drew sharp criticism. Journalist Swati Chaturvedi responded:
“Rethink this tweet, Swara. I am a student of history from Delhi University & nothing remotely fictional about the torture inflicted by Aurangzeb on Sambhaji Maharaj before he murdered him. Let’s not play games with our history, please. One outrage does not preclude the other.”
Rethink, this tweet Swara, I am a student of history from Delhi university & nothing remotely fictional about the torture inflicted by Aurangzeb on Sambhaji Maharaj before he murdered him. Let’s not play games with our history please. One outrage does not preclude the other https://t.co/kYCrnzFWNk
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) February 19, 2025
Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehradai also condemned her statement, saying:
“Fictionalized filmy torture of Hindus?! How dare you make light of the supreme sacrifice made by Sambhaji Maharaj – who was brutally tortured and murdered by the wicked Mughal coward Aurangzeb! Swara Bhaskar, your deeply offensive and hurtful statement, that too on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is obviously aimed at deliberately insulting the sentiments of millions of Indians and creating religious strife. You ought to be prosecuted for this criminal offense to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Fictionalised filmy torture of Hindus”?!
How dare you seek to make light of the supreme sacrifice made by Sambhaji Maharaj – who was brutally tortured and murdered by the wicked Mughal coward Aurangzeb!
Swara Bhaskar – your deeply offensive and hurtful statement, that too on… https://t.co/Zj58gkeIrk
— Jai Anant Dehadrai (@jai_a_dehadrai) February 19, 2025
Several social media users also expressed their outrage. One user, Rishi Bagree, wrote:
“On the contrary, the movie didn’t even show a fraction of the torture that Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje endured.”
On the contrary, the movie didn’t even show the fraction of torture Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje was subjected to… pic.twitter.com/OkF29FHIwZ
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 19, 2025
Another user, Nitendra, remarked:
“So now, Hindus caring about their history and reclaiming their narrative = ‘brain & soul-dead society’? But crying about Mughal glorification, victimhood politics, and fake secularism is ‘intellectual activism’?”
So now, Hindus caring about their history and reclaiming their narrative = “brain & soul-dead society”? But crying about Mughal glorification, victimhood politics, and fake secularism is “intellectual activism”?
— Nitendra (@nitendravows) February 18, 2025
Swara, just because you are married to a muslim man, you don’t have the right to belittle sacrifices of great hindu men. This may sound heavily below the belt but your tweet about our Chhaava is outrageous. Stop being so enticed by political Islam that you forget your forefathers https://t.co/QbNq6iVGnB
— Sanya Talwar (@LegalTalwar) February 19, 2025
The film previously faced controversy over a scene where Vicky Kaushal was seen performing the lezim folk dance. Following objections, the director agreed to remove the scene.
Apart from this, Bhasker recently responded to criticism over her wardrobe choices after her marriage to Fahad Ahmad. She sarcastically called it a matter of “national cyber debate” and shared pictures to counter the trolls. The actor has also claimed that her outspoken political views have negatively impacted her career.