Chhaava is a historical biopic period drama based on the life and times of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who was the second ruler of the Maratha empire in the 17th century. The film narrates the epic saga of the courageous warrior who reportedly fought 140 wars in 9 years and never lost any of them. He ruled from 1681 to 1689 after his father’s death and gained recognition for his valour and patriotism. His rule was largely shaped by the ongoing war between the Marathas and the Mughal Empire, headed by Aurangzeb (Akshaye Khanna) who had to battle Sambhaji Maharaj (Vicky Kaushal) to expand his footprint in the Deccan. By 1685, Aurangzeb had pushed back Sambhaji and had taken over his strongholds. Three years later, the Mughals captured Sambhaji and executed him in 1689.