In the film 'Chhaava', actress Rashmika Mandanna is playing the role of Maharani Yesubai Bhosale, wife of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Playing the character of a Marathi queen was not just an opportunity for Rashmika, but a dream. Recently, during a conversation with Dainik Global News Daily, Rashmika told that her dream was to see herself in the role of a queen, which was fulfilled with 'Chhaava'. Let us tell you, for this character, Rashmika spent 3-4 hours daily for five months learning the language.
It was a dream to play the queen
Rashmika said, 'I have worked very hard for this film. But this is what I always wanted. Ever since I dreamed of becoming an actor, I had a desire to work in such a historical film. The grandeur of our history, traditions and culture always fascinates me. Working in a film like 'Chhaava' is like a dream come true for me. I always dreamed of seeing myself in a royal world, as a queen, amidst royal palaces, spectacular dances and history. When this film came to me I was very excited.
It was the vision of Laxman Utekar Sir that made it special. While narrating the story to me for the first time, he told me that he wanted to see me as a Maharashtrian queen. My looks, my facial features – everything was perfect for this character. This is a film that will make you feel proud. It is not only gorgeous but also heart touching.
Learned the language for five months; Lakshman sir used to say- character is important, not south or north.
Regarding the preparation for the character, the actress further said, 'The biggest preparation was regarding the language. Hindi is not my mother tongue. This language is not natural for me but it was my duty to learn it for my audience. Then when you have to play the character of a queen, you have to master everything – gait, speech, style – everything. I worked hard for three to four hours every day for the dialogues. This sequence continued for five months. I used to learn every word, every sentence as if it was my own language.
For me, it was not just a matter of playing the character, but trying to live the soul of that character. During this time I also learned that language is not only made up of words but also of emotions.
Laxman Sir used to say, 'When people hear you, they will forget whether you come from the South or the North. They will only see your character. I'm glad we achieved this. 'Chhava' has been my most hard-working journey so far. This is not just a film, but a dream come true for me.
Every day on the set with Salman Khan was a memorable moment.
When I came to know that I am doing a film with Salman, believe me, I was very nervous but Salman sir's magic is such that he makes everyone feel comfortable instantly. His demeanor is so relaxed that you don't even feel as if you are dealing with a living legend. Working with him is not only an experience, but it is one of those memories that I will cherish throughout my life.
series of hit films
Rashmika has been giving continuous hit films like 'Pushpa 1', 'Animal' and 'Pushpa 2' in the last three years. Regarding this he said, 'The end of the year always ends with celebration but the real journey is the hard work of the whole year. For every film we think about how people will enjoy it and whether they will celebrate it. The last three years were full of hard work. Every day was spent in understanding the character, facing difficult situations and challenges.
When films become hits, one realizes that all this hard work went in the right direction. I choose films from my heart. I feel that the stories that excite me will also connect with the audience. I remain true to myself with every character, because my personality is most important to me. This shows me the right path.
Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets
