For weeks now, Rashmika Mandanna’s role in Chhaava has continued to be a topic of debate among audiences. The film which released on February 14, 2025 received immense love for its gripping storytelling and Vicky Kaushal’s exceptional character adaptation, while Rashmika faced criticism for her portrayal of Maharani Yesubai the wife of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Some fans felt that as a South Indian actress, she struggled to adapt to the Marathi accent leading to the discussions about whether her voice should have been dubbed.
Veteran television and film actress Sai Deodhar recently shared her thoughts on the matter in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan. Speaking about Rashmika Mandanna’s performance in Chhaava, she acknowledged the actress’s strong performance but admitted that the accent issue stood out.
Sai Deodhar’s Take on Rashmika Mandanna’s Accent in ‘Chhaava’
When asked about Rashmika’s performance, Sai Deodhar stated, “I’ll be very honest, unka performance bahut sundar tha, unki jo language thi na usme jo South Indian twang tha I think vo sabko thoda khatka because obviously history mein humein pata hai ki unka South se koi connection nahi tha. (I’ll be very honest, her performance was beautiful, but the South Indian twang in her language stood out because, historically, she had no connection to the South.)”
She further suggested that dubbing might have made a difference: “Shayad agar dubbing hota, shayad vo Marathi tone pakda hota toh itna nahi bola jata unko (Maybe if her voice was dubbed, she would have caught the Marathi tone better, and she wouldn’t have faced this much criticism.)”
Despite the criticism, Sai Deodhar appreciated Rashmika’s dedication to the role saying she was “bang-on!” in terms of performance and looked stunning as Maharani Yesubai. But she emphasized that the responsibility of perfecting a character lies with both the actor and director stating, “It’s the actor-director’s teamwork that brings out the best in a character.” She also pointed out how easy it has become for people to criticize actors today, noting that no matter how much effort someone puts in, there will always be some criticism.
Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Maddock Films, Chhaava is a historical action film based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire. Starring Vicky Kaushal in the titular role, alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna, the film has become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025.
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