“Didn’t Even Want To…”: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna Refused to Interact During ‘Chhaava’ Filming
Vicky Kaushal recently revealed that he and Akshaye Khanna did not interact personally during the shoot of ‘Chhaava’.
Filmmaking often demands intense dedication, but few actors take their craft to an extreme level. Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna, who portray rival figures in ‘Chhaava’, chose to embody their characters so deeply that they avoided all off-camera interactions. The historical epic, helmed by Laxman Utekar, will showcase Vicky as the valiant Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Akshaye as the formidable Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. However, what transpired behind the scenes was as compelling as their on-screen confrontation. The two actors refrained from any personal conversations, maintaining complete distance until their climactic face-off.
Laxman Utekar recently told Bollywood Hungama that Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna never met before filming their scenes together. In fact, they saw each other for the first time only in character on the day of their shoot.
Opening up about his experience working with Akshaye, Vicky said, “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. The muted sliminess and cunningness that he has brought into the character of Aurangzeb has blended beautifully with the roar of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.”
Vicky Kaushal also revealed, “When we were shooting that scene, we exchanged no good mornings or goodbyes or hellos. He was Aurangzeb, and I was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj—we went straight into the scene. There was no communication as Vicky Kaushal to Akshaye Khanna.”
The director further explained that both actors deliberately chose to keep their interactions strictly professional and character-driven. “They didn’t even want to see each other’s faces,” he remarked.
Vicky also admitted that it was impossible to casually chat and then switch into such characters.
“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,” Vicky said.
In the same interview, director Laxman Utekar also showered praise on Akshaye Khanna’s impeccable performance as Aurangzeb. Calling him “one of the finest actors Bollywood has now,” Laxman Utekar emphasized how the actor's portrayal exudes menace and command.
“The way he has played Aurangzeb will leave you frightened. He talks very little, but communicates so much with his eyes,” Laxman Utekar noted. He also highlighted that Akshaye, despite his selective film choices, brings an unmatched depth to every role he takes on. Convincing him to join ‘Chhaava’, however, was not as complicated as one might think—one visit to Akshaye’s Alibaug home was enough for him to say yes.
With ‘Chhaava’ set to release on February 14, the audience will soon witness whether this behind-the-scenes dedication translates into an electrifying cinematic experience. The upcoming film also stars Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai.
