Vicky Kaushal‘s historical drama Chhaava hit the screens on Valentine’s Day to great anticipation. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film is a biographical depiction of Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Early booking figures suggest that the movie might secure the largest opening day ever for a Valentine’s Day release in India, according to industry analysts. A report by industry tracker Sacnilk reveals that Chhaava sold 5 lakh tickets domestically in advance booking for its opening day, amounting to a final advance booking gross of ₹13.79 crore, one of the highest in recent Bollywood history.
Trade insiders estimate that Chhaava will cross the ₹20 crore mark on Friday; predictions even suggest it could breach ₹22 crore in net domestic collections. If these forecasts hold true, it would position Chhaava as the biggest opener of 2025 to date, surpassing the ₹15.30 crore opening day figure of Sky Force. According to Sacnilk, the film collected ₹6 crore net across India by noon, with expectations for these numbers to increase throughout the day, especially due to the Valentine’s Day boost.
These trends indicate that Chhaava will easily become Vicky Kaushal’s biggest opener, likely exceeding the ₹8.20 crore mark achieved by Uri: The Surgical Strike. In an exciting twist, Chhaava is on track to challenge a notable industry record held by Ranveer Singh’s Gully Boy, which attained the highest collection for a Bollywood film on Valentine’s Day with ₹19.40 crore net in 2019. As it stands, Chhaava is poised to surpass this milestone and may do so comfortably.
Based on an adaptation of Shivaji Sawant’s Marathi novel Chhava, Laxman Utekar’s Chhaava showcases Vicky Kaushal as the Maratha ruler, alongside Akshaye Khanna as Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai. The film has received acclaim for its performances, particularly those of Kaushal and Khanna. The success of Chhaava not only heralds a significant accomplishment for Kaushal but also reflects the growing excitement and potential within the Indian film industry, especially during celebratory occasions like Valentine’s Day.
