The massive box office success of Chhaava and Dhurandhar has sparked a wider conversation in the film industry about whether patriotism has become a reliable formula for commercial success. Both films, which feature themes of nationalism and sacrifice, have crossed ₹800 crore at the global box office, making them the biggest Hindi releases of the year.
However, Vicky Kaushal, who plays the lead in Chhaava, has firmly dismissed the idea. In an interaction with NDTV, the actor said that viewing patriotism as a formula undermines the depth of the emotion. According to him, national pride is not a tool for guaranteed returns but a reflection of a country’s truth. He added that patriotism has always found expression through films, literature and sports, and should not be boxed into commercial logic.
Vicky further explained that filmmakers choose such subjects to express pride in India’s diversity, history and cultural legacy. He said that representing these stories on screen is a way of confidently placing India on the global map, something he feels proud to be part of.
Directed by Laxman Utekar, Chhaava narrates the story of Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his conflict with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The film stars Vicky Kaushal as Sambhaji Maharaj and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb, and has earned ₹807 crore worldwide.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, is a high-octane spy thriller featuring Ranveer Singh as an Indian operative taking on terror networks across borders. Despite their shared patriotic themes, both films tell very different stories reinforcing Vicky’s view that emotion, not formula, drives their success.
