Vicky Kaushal’s birthday note to director Laxman Utekar comes with rare 'Chhaava' BTS snapshots

Actor Vicky Kaushal took a moment on June 1 to wish director Laxman Utekar a happy birthday, sharing a series of behind-the-scenes photographs from their upcoming historical film Chhaava. In his message, Vicky wrote, “Happy Birthday to the man who made me Raaje!”, referring to his role as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The two had earlier worked together on the 2023 romantic comedy Zara Hatke Zara Bachke. Their latest collaboration, however, took a completely different turn, diving into Maratha history. The film, which is expected to release in February 2025, is said to have been a demanding project with a scale involving large sets and hundreds of extras.

In a previous interview with Pinkvilla, Laxman Utekar spoke about Vicky’s commanding screen presence. Recalling shoot days, he said, “There were 1500 people on our sets. Even when there was some chaos, as Raaje (Vicky) got out of his vanity, it felt like a lion was coming. When we saw him in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s outfit, holding that sword, everyone stood to attention. No one had the courage to say anything to him since he was Raaje to us and still is.”

Vicky, too, acknowledged the atmosphere on set and how the director managed to stay calm under pressure. He shared, “A lot happens on the sets. I said to myself, ‘Now, sir will lose his cool and say, what on earth is going on’. We shot for about 100 days. Not even once I saw him lose his temper.”

He further added that Utekar’s composed nature deeply influenced the team. “He has been so committed to making the film right that anytime an issue arises, he will say, ‘We will try to find a solution together.’ That calmness, composure, and affection made everyone passionately invested in the film. I don’t know how he manages it, but he does.”

On the professional front, Vicky Kaushal will next appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, alongside Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor.