Actor Thakur Anoop Singh played the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the Marathi-Hindi film 'Dhararakshak Mahaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj'. For him this film is not just a role but like a dream. Anoop spoke about the character and the challenges associated with it in an exclusive conversation with Frontpage Insights. Along with this, Vicky Kaushal will also soon be seen playing the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on the big screen. His film 'Chhawa' will release next year.
Excited to see the Sambhaji Maharaj version of Vicky Anup says, 'I have seen Vicky's work. His work in 'Uri' and 'Saam Bahadur' was very good. I consider him a great actor. An actor gets a character like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj only once in his life. Vicky is also lucky and I consider myself lucky too. More movies should be made on this, so that this character can be recognized more.
He further said, 'It is necessary to use it for educational purposes, so that future generations can know the history. Sadly, in my childhood there was no chapter about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the history books. While shooting this film I realized that nothing has been said about this character. More films should be made on such characters, and I am very excited to see Vicki's version of Sambhaji Maharaj.
It was a privilege to get the opportunity to play the character. Anoop says that when the film came to him, he immediately accepted it. He said, 'It was a matter of good fortune for me. Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji Maharaj have been my idols. Their courage and struggle always inspires me. When I got the chance to play this character, it was not just a role but a responsibility. This role was to understand his ideals and convey them to the people.
He continued, 'Such characters are rarely seen. When such an opportunity comes, one should pursue it with full effort and heart. This character has taught me many aspects of life, not just acting. I tried to understand it completely.
Difficulty in understanding Marathi language and history Anoop had to work hard to understand the Marathi language and the history of the time to play this character. He said, 'The film used the Marathi language of that time, which was very different from today's. It was challenging to speak and understand him properly. I had earlier done projects like 'Mahabharata', but for this character I had to work harder. Many times in the night he used to ask the question to the director that why did Maharaj say that and what was his real meaning?
Physical preparation and shooting challenges To play this historical character it was necessary to be prepared not only in dialogues but also physically. He said, 'I was already fit, but this film challenged my physical endurance. We had to shoot in the sun for 8-10 hours wearing heavy armor.
Many times I don't remember whether I have eaten food or not. After the shooting was over, the body started shaking. In such a situation hot water and salt had to be resorted to. The experience was quite exhausting. But it brought me closer to my character.
Experience connecting with history The film was shot in historical forts like Satara and Vijaydurg in Maharashtra. Anup said, 'Working at these places was very special. The air, soil and atmosphere here gave us a chance to experience history. When you shoot in a location that is part of your character's story, your performance automatically improves. This experience will be remembered for a lifetime.
The film is not just a story, but … Anoop hopes that the audience will definitely like the film. The film is not just a story, but an experience, which the audience will feel in every frame. I am confident that this film will prove to be an inspiration for every generation.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
