Why Rashmika Mandanna failed to impress as Yesubai in 'Chhaava'
What's the story
Rashmika Mandanna, who recently played Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale in the historical drama Chhaava, has been getting flak for her performance.
The film, directed by Laxman Utekar and released on February 14, 2025, is inspired by the remarkable life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Despite the film's box office success, Mandanna's portrayal of Yesubai has been found underwhelming by critics and audiences alike.
What happened?
Performance critique
Mandanna's dialogue delivery was a major issue
A major chunk of the criticism aimed at Mandanna is due to her performance, particularly her dialogue delivery in the film.
Despite her expressive eyes and fair emoting ability, critics say her effort to speak "shuddh Hindi (pure Hindi)" sounded more South Indian than Marathi.
This part of her performance was seen as a distraction, diminishing the film's overall impact.
Casting controversy
Director Utekar's casting decision and its implications
Utekar, at the grand trailer launch event in Mumbai, said even producer Dinesh Vijan was taken aback when he recommended Mandanna for the role of Yesubai.
Utekar was attracted to the "purity" he saw in Mandanna's eyes, which he thought looked like a Marathi queen.
However, critics say more attention should have been paid to her dialogue delivery and dialect.
Dialogue dilemma
Mandanna's struggle with heavy dialogues in 'Chhaava'
Rishi Virmani, the dialogue writer for Chhaava, has been lauded for his work. But the film has more verbal punches than conversations.
Critics allege that Mandanna, who carries a thick South Indian accent while speaking Hindi, didn't do justice to these heavy dialogues.
Many argued that a dubbing artist who speaks in an authentic Marathi dialect could have been employed to mask the problems easily.
Past performances
Mandanna's performance compared to previous roles
Notably, this isn't the first time Mandanna has been criticized for her dialogue delivery. She was earlier trolled for her performance in the 2023 trailer of Animal but proved herself when the film was released.
In Chhaava, however, she couldn't make a similar impression. Critics have compared her unfavorably to actors like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone, and Aishwarya Rai who have left a lasting impression with their performances in historical dramas.
Box office success
'Chhaava' continues to soar at the box office
Despite the criticism surrounding Mandanna's performance, Chhaava has been a box-office hit.
The film has reportedly crossed the ₹165 crore mark, becoming the first 2025 movie to achieve this feat. This success highlights the nationwide appeal of its subject matter, revolving around Maratha king Sambhaji Maharaj.
Meanwhile, Mandanna will be seen in several films in 2025 including AR Murugadoss's Sikandar opposite Salman Khan.