Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna’s film Chhaava has taken the Bollywood box office by storm, continuing its impressive run with significant earnings reported daily since its release. Following its release on February 14, 2025, the historical action drama has become the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year and is on track to break the ₹500 crore mark.
By Day 11, Chhaava was racing closer to the ₹450 crore landmark, with its domestic earnings standing at approximately ₹345.25 crore. The film, directed by Laxman Utekar, garnered ₹18.5 crore on its second Monday, showing a slight decline from its earlier weekend performance. Despite the drop, the film's overall gross has reached ₹444.5 crore globally, according to reports by Sacnilk.
After experiencing remarkable success during its opening weekend—where the film collected ₹31 crore on Day 1, ₹37 crore on Day 2, and peaking with ₹48.5 crore on Day 3—Chhaava solidified its position as one of the top earners of 2025. It initially maintained steady occupancy rates, drawing audiences with its engaging storytelling and star-studded cast. On Day 11, the overall occupancy rate was reported as 23.64%.
Industry experts noted, "Chhaava's first week saw collections amounting to ₹219.25 crore, with weekday figures reflecting slight fluctuations typical for box office patterns." The film faced some challenges on its second Monday, where attendance dipped, leading to the decrease in revenue. Yet, it still managed to recover with impressive showings of ₹40 crore on its second Sunday and ₹44 crore on the preceding Saturday.
The film tells the compelling story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, with Kaushal portraying the lead role and Mandanna depicting Maharani Yesubai. Other prominent cast members include Akshaye Khanna as Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and Ashutosh Rana as Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite. The ensemble has helped captivate audiences, even as certain groups expressed discontent with historical portrayals within the narrative.
On Day 12, early estimates suggested the film's collections would approach ₹352.94 crore, though concerns about lower occupancy rates were evident, and some critics pointed out the film's pacing issues, with SCREEN reviewer Shubhra Gupta noting aspects of the film's climax. Regardless, the positive reception from audiences and critics alike has propelled Chhaava to considerable heights.
Though Chhaava has faced backlash, including grievances from communities not content with their historical representation, it remains noteworthy to realize its successful box office performance. Observations indicated dissatisfaction over perceived distortions, yet the mainstream audience's appreciation continues to thrive.
Vicky Kaushal's performance has marked this film as his highest-grossing as lead, surpassing previous records set by his hit film Uri: The Surgical Strike. Alia Bhatt, Kaushal's co-star, celebrated the film's success, sharing her excitement and congratulating him on social media: "Many, many cheers and claps for @vickykaushal09 absolutely smashing the box office with Chhaava!!!"
With no major competition until Salman Khan's Sikandar is expected to release on March 30, 2025, the momentum for Chhaava can be anticipated to continue, potentially tapping even greater financial heights. Industry analysts speculate the film may surpass the ₹400 crore threshold over its lifetime run.
The film's digital rights have already been snapped up by Netflix, making it likely to have significant continued visibility post-theatrical run, as reported on various platforms.
Overall, Chhaava exemplifies how demand for historical narratives sprinkled with action and drama can drive box office fortunes, bringing Bollywood back to life following pandemic struggles.