Chhatrapati Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Empire and warrior extraordinaire, crafted a legacy that is hard to follow. Tales of his empire, his exploits and his valour form the bedrock of the historical and socio-political narrative of Maharashtra, with rival political factions vying to be considered the true spiritual sons of Shivaji.
His real sons had a lot more to claim than a spiritual legacy. The fierce tiger, the successor tiger cub Chhava—this was the epithet bestowed on Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Shivaji’s elder son, and is the title of a book by the renowned Shivaji Sawant.
It is also the name of an upcoming film based on this book where Vicky Kaushal essays the role of Sambhaji, valourizing his life and times. The film is directed by Laxman Utkekar, and is set to be released on February 14, 2025. Its trailer dropped on January 22, and already there is consternation over the historicity and appropriateness of certain elements (for instance: would Sambhaji dance?).
As with most historical dramas, the jury will be divided as to what is fact and what is (acceptable) fiction. The identity and the existence of Sambhaji, is, however, not one of the matters up for debate.
The story of Sambhaji
Sambhaji was born in 1657 to Chhatrapati Shivaji and his second wife Saibai at Purandar fort. There are differing accounts about his birth date, with some claiming it to be May 14 while others mark it according to the Hindu calendar.
Saibai reportedly died when he was still a baby. Sambhaji grew up in the shadow of his illustrious warrior-father. He acquired a reputation of being brave, smart and learned in multiple languages.
Shivaji passed away in April 1680, felled by dysentery. He left a Maratha kingdom of “great but ill-defined extent.” Its territories were “not contiguous and its subjects were still unaccustomed to other than personal allegiance to their remarkable leader,” writes John Keay in India: A History. Divisions persisted among the Maratha leaders.
It was at this time that Sambhaji staked his claim to the throne. For a while, he was embroiled in a bitter accession dispute with his half brother Rajaram, son of Sorabai. Although Sorabai plotted to have her son on the throne, he was only 10 at the time.

The cover of Shivaji Sawant’ historical Marathi novel ‘Chhaava’, on which the film is based
Eventually, the 23-year old Sambhaji received the crucial support of army chief Hambirrao Mohite, and ascended the throne. Rajaram, Sorabai, and their supporters were placed under house arrest.

Unofficially, Sambaji had succeeded Shivaji to the throne in July 1680 as the second ruler of the Maratha empire, but it wasn’t till January 1681 that he was officially crowned as king. Historical records suggest Sambhaji’s coronation was attended by over one lakh people. By this time, Sambhaji had also married Yesubhai Bhonsale. They had a daughter, Bhavani, following which their son, the future Chhatrapati Shahu I, was born in 1682.
Following his coronation, Sambhaji embarked on a short rule of nine years. Those in his court included the trusty Hambirrao Mohite and Kavi Kalash. He resumed the expansion of the Maratha kingdom that his father had undertaken, replacing him as a thorn in the side of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb.
Aurangazeb also had to contend with his rebellious son, Prince Akbar (not to be confused with Emperor Akbar, Aurangazeb’s great-grandfather) who attempted to gain the support of the Rajputs and the Marathas, reportedly turning up in Sambhaji’s court. However, Sambhaji did not ally with Prince Akbar, or fall in with his pleas for an all-India offensive against Aurangazeb.
Besides multiple confrontations with the Mughals, Sambhaji waged battles against other local rulers and colonial powers. In 1681, he also made a failed attempt to take over Mysore, then ruled by the Wodeyar king Chikkadevaraja. He fought off the Abyssinian Siddis who sought to control the Konkan coast and confined them to Janjira. Sambhaji fought the Portuguese as well, invading Goa in 1683. His army, however, was driven back from Goa in January 1684 after the Mughals intervened.
He kept the Mughals occupied in South India. In 1862, Aurangzeb had made his way down south with his imperial court, administration and 1,80,000 troops. The Mughal army overpowered Maratha deshmukhs and enlisted them in imperial service as mansabdars. The Bijapur and Golconda sultanates, which had on occasion aided the Marathas, fell to the Mughals. But gaining control of the Maratha territories proved difficult.

Between 1682 and 1688, the Marathas and Mughals fought multiple battles in the Deccan. The Mughals targeted the forts held by the Marathas in Nashik and Baglana, making repeated but ultimately fruitless attempts to capture Ramsej fort. The Marathas under Sambhaji launched offensives into Mughal-held territory, attacking Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh.
In late 1687, the Marathas and Mughals faced off in the forests near Wai. While the Battle of Wai was won by the Marathas, Hambirrao Mohite was killed. This marked a turning of the tide for Sambhaji, who was captured along with his chief minister by Aurangazeb’s forces in an ambush in 1688. He had also witnessed a gradual attrition of loyalty; some accounts allege that he was betrayed.

Vicky Kaushal in a still from ‘Chhaava’
After his capture, Sambhaji was reportedly ordered to surrender his forts and the riches of his treasury. He was also asked to convert to Islam. Sambhaji was defiant. An account says that he insulted both the Emperor and the Prophet Muhammed. He refused to convert, and was “duly tortured and then painfully dismembered, joint by joint, limb by limb.” He was put to death at Tulapur, near the Bhima river.
“No doubt the procedure symbolised that by which Aurangazeb imagined himself dealing with the Maratha kingdom,” a text suggested.
Historians have proffered various lenses to examine the life of Sambhaji. Sambhaji’s fealty to the Hindu dharma in the face of certain death has earned him much admiration from Hindu nationalists. Some early Marathi writers, however, portrayed him as irresponsible and wayward. Yet others have held him up as a figure of unwavering valiance who inspired the Marathas in their fight against the Mughals.
After Sambhaji
Sambhaji’s half-brother Rajaram, son of Sorabai, succeeded him to the throne. His way forward was, however, not smooth. After facing a siege in Raigad, he escaped and headed south to the Maratha territories in Tamil Nadu. In Jinji, he was subjected to another siege for eight years—almost the entirety of his reign. Although the fort finally fell, Rajaram and some of his men made their escape.
Aurangazeb continued to wage war against the Marathas, but the terrain proved unfavourable to his military cavalcade. The Mughals did see some success—in around 1700, Satara came under their siege. Rajaram died around this time, but his senior widow Tarabai took over the reins in the name of their son Sambhaji II.
The consolidation of the Maratha Empire and the battle against the Mughals thus continued. Later, power and control were to pass into the hands of the Peshwas, heralding yet another chapter in the region’s history.
Published – January 27, 2025 12:04 pm IST