Vicky Kaushal's historical epic ‘Chhaava’ has made history, becoming the first Hindi film to sell 12 million tickets on BookMyShow, the platform announced on Tuesday.

Directed by Laxman Utekar, ‘Chhaava’ hit theaters on February 14 and chronicles the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the valiant son of Maratha Empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Kaushal stars in the titular role, while Rashmika Mandanna portrays his wife, Yesubai.

Produced by Maddock Films, the period drama has emerged as Bollywood’s first blockbuster of the year. It has already raked in over ₹550 crore at the domestic box office, cementing its status as one of the year’s biggest successes.

Ashish Saksena, COO of Cinemas at BookMyShow, lauded the film’s record-breaking performance, noting that ‘Chhaava’ had surpassed the 2024 blockbuster Stree 2, starring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor.

“In a historic achievement that has redefined Indian cinema, ‘Chhaava’ has shattered all previous records to become the first Hindi film to cross 12 million ticket sales on BookMyShow,” Saksena said in a statement.

The film has garnered a phenomenal response nationwide, with especially strong traction in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Nashik, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow.

“It’s a cultural phenomenon that underscores the power of authentic storytelling rooted in history. ‘Chhaava’’s success proves that when compelling narratives meet stellar performances, cinematic magic unfolds, deeply resonating with audiences,” Saksena added.

The film also features an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Neil Bhoopalam, Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, and Vineet Kumar Singh.

With the film highlighting Sambhaji Maharaj’s courage in his battles against the Mughals and Portuguese, and educating people about Maratha history, the BJP government in Chhattisgarh had declared the Hindi film ’Chhaava’ tax-free, joining Madhya Pradesh and Goa in exempting the historical drama from entertainment tax.