Mandlekar, who plays Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Marathi film Pawankhind, discusses playing the historical character for the third time on screen
A still from Pawankhind
It is difficult for a regional film to stand out, especially when it is released only a week ahead of Alia Bhatt’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, and Robert Pattinson’s The Batman, that released on March 4. However, Digpal Lanjekar’s Marathi film Pawankhind, which released on February 18, not only managed to woo the audiences, but is also expected to make Rs 30 crore at the box office by the end of the fourth week. The budget of the film was close to Rs 5.5 crore.
Chinmay Mandlekar
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The period drama sees Chinmay Mandlekar reprising the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for the third time, after Farzand (2018) and Fatteshikast (2019). The film, based on a rear-guard face-off between Maratha warrior Baji Prabhu Deshpande and Siddi Masud of Adilshah sultanate, is only the third film in the franchise. “The director Digpal Lanjekar has planned an eight-movie series on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with me playing the legendary ruler. After Pawankhind, the fourth film, Sher Shivraj will release on [April 29],” says the actor.
Taking up the role was a no-brainer for Mandlekar, who idolises Shivaji. He says, “The battle of Pawankhind has been lost in the mainstream media. The response to the film has been heart-warming. To play your own hero in films is an uplifting feeling.” The actor, who was also seen in Hindi films, including Tere Bin Laden (2010), Shanghai (2012) and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018), confirms that the makers are hoping to complete the next four films of the eight-film franchise in another year. “Since the plan is to make a few more movies around the iconic character, we cannot be frivolous in our personal lives [because] even one insignificant thing can be picked up and blown out of proportion,” he says, adding that the rule, however, doesn’t apply when taking up negative roles. “I can play any role that I want, even if it is completely opposite to what I play in the historical. Marathi audiences understand that this is a film; I am playing a character.” The actor is set to play the negative lead in Vivek Agnihotri’s Kashmir Files that releases this Friday.
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