Actor Thakur Anup Singh became ‘Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’. Actor Thakur Anup Singh became ‘Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’: Said – playing this character is like a dream, now I am excited about Vicky Kaushal’s version

Actor Thakur Anoop Singh has played the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the Marathi-Hindi film ‘Dharramrakshak Mahavir Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’. For him this film is not just a role but like a dream. Anoop, in a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, talked about this character and the challenges associated with it.

Along with this, Vicky Kaushal will also soon be seen playing the role of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on the big screen. His film ‘Chhaava’ will be released next year.

Excited to see Vicky’s version of Sambhaji Maharaj

Anup says, ‘I have seen Vicky’s work. His work in ‘Uri’ and ‘Sam 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 also consider myself lucky. More films should be made on this, so that this character can be recognized more.

He further said, ‘It is important that it is used for educational purposes, so that the coming generations can know the history. Sadly, in my childhood there was no chapter on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the history books. While shooting this film, I realized that nothing was told about this character. More films should be made on such characters, and I am very excited to see Vicky’s version of Sambhaji Maharaj.

It was a privilege to get a chance to play the character.

Anoop tells that when this 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. His courage and struggle has always inspired me. When I got a chance to play this character, it was not just a role but a responsibility. This role was to understand his ideals and make them reach the people.

He further said, ‘Such characters are rarely found. When such an opportunity comes, one should pursue it with full hard work and heart. This character has taught me not only acting but also many aspects of life. I tried to understand it completely.

Difficulty found in understanding Marathi language and history

To play this character, Anoop had to work hard to understand the Marathi language and the history of that time. He said, ‘The Marathi language of that time was used in the film, which was very different from today. It was challenging to speak and understand it properly. I had earlier done projects like ‘Mahabharat’, but for this character I had to work harder. Many times at night he would ask questions to the director, why did Maharaj say this and what was its true meaning?

Physical preparation and challenges of shooting

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 gave a new challenge to my physical stamina. We had to shoot for 8-10 hours in the sun wearing heavy armour.

Many times I could not remember whether I had eaten food or not. After the shooting was over, the body started trembling. In such a situation, one had to resort to hot water and salt. This experience was quite tiring. But it brought me closer to my character.

experience of connecting with history

The film was shot in the historical forts of Maharashtra, such as Satara and Vijaydurg. Anup said, ‘Working at these places was very special. The air, soil and atmosphere here gave us a chance to feel the history. When you shoot at a place which is a part of your character’s story, your acting automatically improves. This experience will be remembered for the whole life.

This film is not just a story, but …

Anoop hopes that the audience will definitely like the film. ‘This 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 inspirational for every generation.