Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Actress Rashmika Mandanna revealed that landing the role of Maharani Yesubai in the historical drama Chhaava was completely unexpected for her.
In a heartfelt post-release message, Rashmika expressed her gratitude to the filmmakers and shared unseen photos from the sets. The film, directed by Laxman Utekar, stars Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb.
Rashmika’s Emotional Instagram Post
Taking to Instagram, Rashmika reflected on the journey of playing Maharani Yesubai, admitting she never imagined herself in a historical role.
“A girl from the South playing Maharani Yesubai. That was something I never had on my radar… never thought it was possible. And that’s why I love working with people who give us the hope to dream beyond boundaries.”
Describing her character, she added:
“She is fierce, powerful, graceful—a true queen. Her love is pure, divine, respectful, and true. Maharaj and Maharani are always connected beyond just words.”
How Rashmika Landed the Role
The actress recalled her first meeting with director Laxman Utekar:
“I had watched Mimi and loved it so much that I wanted to invite Laxman sir for my film’s screening. I messaged him, and that’s when the journey began. Sir immediately called me and said he wanted to meet for his next film. I thought he was just being nice, but then the meeting actually happened, and it made me so happy.”
At the time, Rashmika was unaware of the film’s plot or why she was being considered for the role.
“When I heard the narration, I was confused, shocked, but also so grateful and overwhelmed. I didn’t know how we were going to achieve this.”
A New Challenge for Rashmika
In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Rashmika opened up about the challenges of playing a real historical figure for the first time.
“This is the first time I am doing a character that already existed in history. Every time before, I created a character, but this time, I wasn’t creating one—she is Yesubai. There’s nothing of Rashmika in her.”
Calling the role both thrilling and daunting, she added:
“Stepping into the shoes of a royal warrior queen was an incredible opportunity. I’ve never done a biopic before, and it was something entirely new for me.”
Unseen Behind-the-Scenes Moments
Rashmika also shared a series of unseen photos and videos from the set of Chhaava. One picture showed her in full costume, preparing for a scene, while another captured Vicky Kaushal and Laxman Utekar discussing a sequence, with Vicky dressed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
With Rashmika’s deep commitment to the role and Chhaava’s grand historical backdrop, the film promises to be an epic cinematic experience for audiences.