Vicky Kaushal on ‘Chhaava,’ and Completing 10 Years In The Movies | Anupama Chopra | THR Talks

In this exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, actor Vicky Kaushal opens up about his ambitious role in “Chhaava”, in which he portrays Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Speaking with Anupama Chopra, Vicky discusses the intense physical and emotional demands of the biopic, from mastering sword fighting to embodying the lion-like spirit of his character.

He reflects on 10 years of stardom post-Masan, his evolving approach to playing real-life heroes, and his upcoming collaborations such as Love & War with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Mahavatar with Amar Kaushik. In this candid conversation, Vicky talks about overcoming fears, the responsibility of portraying historical icons, and how he continues to challenge himself to bring new dimensions to Indian cinema.

00:00 Introduction & 10 years of Vicky Kaushal
02:58 The "DNA transplant” approach for “Chhaava”
05:54 Prepping physically and mentally for the role
07:52 Studying lions for ferocity & confidence
09:31 Balancing vulnerability with a regal presence
10:51 Inspiration from music for the role
12:12 Memorizing lines and learning pronunciation
13:15 Hitting “autopilot” after the first action sequence
14:39 Subtlety vs. loudness
16:19 Playing patriots in 3 biopics and the art of portraying patriotism
18:48 Cleaning the slate before new films
20:04 On missing "Deepak" from "Masaan"
20:55 Roadblocks while acting
22:59 Fear of water while filming “Masaan”
25:20 Galloping on a horse for the first time
27:50 On Laxman Utekar informing about "Chhaava"
28:56 Filming the emotional climax of "Chhaava"
30:53 Vicky's father, Sham Kaushal's, happiness
32:17 Upcoming projects and plans: “Love & War” & “Mahavatar”
35:50 On Laxman Utekar's journey
37:24 Audience Q&A: dream roles and craft insights
50:48 Closing remarks

#VickyKaushal #Chhaava #THRTalks