Rashmika Mandanna Opens Up On Playing Yesubai In Chhaava Despite Being 'Girl From South': 'Never Thought It Was Possible'

As the highly-anticipated magnum opus Chhaava finally released in theatres on Friday, actress Rashmika Mandanna took to her social media and penned a heartfelt note for the entire team of the film for believing that she was fit to play the role of Maharani Yesubai. She also addressed the chatter around her casting to play a Marathi character in the film despite hailing from the South.

Rashmika took to her Instagram to share a slew of behind-the-scene glimpses from the sets of Chhaava and revealed how she landed a role in the film. "I had watched the film called mimi and I loved the film so much that I wanted to invite Laxman sir for the screening of my film goodbye and so i messaged him and that’s when the journey began Cz sir immediately asked me if he could call me and we spoke and he was telling me he wanted to meet me for his next film.. and I thought he was just being nice, but the meeting actually did happen, and it made me so so so happy that it did happen.. I truly thank the universe for this (sic)," she wrote.

She further said, "I didn’t know what the story was. I didn’t know why they came to me, I didn’t know how they even saw me as the maharani. I didn’t even know what was happening.. when i actually heard the narration i was confused, shocked but also so grateful, overwhelmed and so so so happy that I didnt know how to react because I didn’t know how we were going to achieve this (sic)."

"A girl from the south playing Maharani Yesubai. That was something I never had on my radar.. never thought it was possible, and that’s why I love working with people who give us the hope to dream beyond boundaries (sic)," she admitted.

Describing her character, Rashmika added, "And then the maharani came in all her glory. She is fierce - she is powerful - she is graceful - she is a true queen. Her love is the love I truly relate to - it’s so pure so divine and so respectful and so true that Maharaj and Maharani are always connected beyond just words (sic)."

Rashmika did not just stop there but went ahead and praised each one individually. She called director Laxman Utekar the "most beautiful person I've ever met", and shared that she trusts producer Dinesh Vijan with her career. "The only one who’s made me believe that I can do a Maharani and a Thama in this same life (sic)," she wrote.

She also thanked co-star Vicky Kaushal for supporting her throughout the promotions after she injured her leg. "Vicky - you are a true star man. Foe and all later... but I truly hope you get everything that you ever wish for cz you fully deserve it and more. (sic)," she wrote.

"Thankyou for holding my hand and making sure I don’t get hurt the whole of the promotion time (I felt super bad that I was slowing you down and making you take care of me but really really thankyou) and you were always there when I wanted to do lines and always been honest when I would ask you after the shot- if the shot was ok and if you felt the emotion.. (sic)," she added.

Chhaava tells the tale of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, played by Vicky, while Rashmika plays his wife, Yesubai Bhosale. Akshaye Khanna essays the role of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the film.