Historical dramas demand a foundation of exhaustive research and precision. As director Laxman Utekar set out to make Chhaava, a biopic of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, he was certain about offering an authentic representation of the 17th century Maratha king. Before the Vicky Kaushal-starrer went on floors in October 2023, the director worked closely with historians and costume designer Sheetal Sharma for a year to perfect the leading man’s look as well as that of the remaining cast.

Sources say that Sharma and Utekar, as part of their research, went to Aurangabad, Ratnagiri, Pune, Nashik, Paithan and many other towns of Maharashtra. A source elaborates, “Some filmmakers love playing with whites and pastels that are far removed from the world they are depicting, but Laxman wanted to be authentic in his storytelling. When the team began their research by visiting Maratha towns, they found out that Indians are not about pastels, but about a blast of colours. Laxman and Sheetal visited several forts and museums in these cities and towns that further gave them an insight into the dressing and culture of that era. They also met historians, who studied that period.”