Bollywood actor
Vicky Kaushal wooed the audience on the occasion of Marathi Language Day with his impressive command of the language.
The actor, took to the stage to recite the poem Fakht Ladh Mhan by renowned Marathi poet Kusumagraj and won hearts with his flawless pronunciation and recitation. The event, held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Park Ground in Dadar, saw prominent figures from the film industry and literary world in attendance, including singer Asha Bhosale, lyricist and poet
Javed Akhtar, as well as actors
Sonali Bendre and
Riteish Deshmukh.
Kaushal, who plays the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, in the historical drama 'Chhaava', took over the microphone and expressed his deep connection to the state of Maharashtra, its language and culture. While speaking at the event, he said candidly, “I must admit, I am feeling very nervous."
He went on to add, "I studied Marathi until the 10th standard, and funnily enough, I scored higher in Marathi than in English. However, I am not as fluent, so please forgive any mistakes. Standing here after Javed Saheb and reciting a Marathi poem is one of the most nerve-wracking moments of my life."
Mentioning how working on Chhaava and learning about Sambhaji Maharaj helped him understand the nuances of Marathi, including the significance of the word 'Kana', he added, "Though I am a non-Maharashtrian, I was educated in Maharashtra, and my career thrives here. Being on this stage at Shivaji Park, on Marathi Language Day, is a truly special moment for me."
'Chhaava', directed by
Laxman Utekar, has performed phenomenally at the box office since its release on February 14. The film is making waves across India and amid its success in the Hindi-speaking regions, the film is now all set to release in Telugu. The film which completed 2 weeks at the box office, hit the Rs398.25 crore on Day 14, setting the ball rolling for the film to now enter the Rs 400 crore club. This is now not only the first hit film of 2025, but also the highest-earning film in Vicky's film career.