Vicky Kaushal to go beyond 100 kgs to play Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj
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Mumbai: Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal is preparing to play Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in a film directed by Laxman Utekar.
Speaking to Pinkvilla, the director said Vicky Kaushal has a personality that matches with the emperor and he is the perfect person to play the historical figure in terms of physicality as well. "First of all, Vicky is a very good performer as we all know. You can see it in any of his films. At the same time, he is an amazing person. Secondly, when the script was ready, we wanted an actor whose personality matches Sambhaji Maharaj. That personality and that physicality only Vicky has from the younger lot of actors. So I thought he would be a perfect casting for Sambhaji Maharaj."
He added that the 35-year-old actor will be gaining a lot of weight and is expected to go beyond 100 kgs before shooting begins. The preparation for the role started two months ago and he is learning horse riding and sword fighting. "We are already in pre-production and began the prep two months ago. Vicky’s training is going on because he has to gain weight and go beyond 100 kgs. He is undergoing training for horse riding and sword fighting. So all the training is going on. Rest of the casting and location hunting is also underway."
The shooting of the film will start in September 2023.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is the son of the founder of the Maratha empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
When the film was announced in January, Uterkar told PTI: "His personality, like his height and physique matches that of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. He is also a fabulous performer. We didn’t do any look test, I was sure that he is the one who can play Sambhaji. He will train for four months in sword fighting, horse riding, and a few other things. And once we are satisfied, we will start shooting."
He added that he is keen to explore the story of the emperor on the big screen. "We have seen many films on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but nobody knows how big a warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was, or his contribution towards the Maratha empire and to Maharashtra."