Chhaava, a 2025 Bollywood action film based on Hindu warrior Sambhaji who fought against the Muslim Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, has been blamed for inciting riots in the city of Nagpur, Sky News reports.

In a speech in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said: "Chhaava has ignited people's anger against Aurangzeb. After the movie, people's emotions have been reignited. The anger against Aurangzeb is being exhibited in a big way. Still, everyone must keep Maharashtra peaceful."

The 17th-century Muslim ruler is a loathed figure among Hindu nationalists, who accuse him of persecuting Hindus during his rule, though some historians say such stories are exaggerated.

In an election campaign for Maharashtra, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raked up the Muslim ruler and targeted the opposition Congress party for propagating Aurangzeb's ideas and considering him as a messiah.

Aurangzeb was buried in the city of Aurangabad in 1707, which was rechristened by the state government as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar city in 2022. For months a communal rhetoric has been building up against the 17th-century ruler's tomb. Hindu leaders and right-wing organisations demand the tomb be destroyed or removed from the state.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde said the US refused to bury Osama bin Laden on its land and disposed of his body into the sea to prevent any kind of glorification. "Why should we allow his glorification in our state? He is a blot on our history."

On Monday a rally was held by hundreds of workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal seeking the removal of the tomb during which effigies were burnt of the ruler. Later in the day rumours circulated on social media that the Holy Quran was desecrated and things containing religious contents were burnt.