A large crowd gathered in Burhanpur to excavate gold coins allegedly buried near Asirgarh Fort, following a viral rumor sparked by the film Chhaava, according to a news portal. Social media is flooded with videos of villagers frantically digging fields in search of hidden treasure.

The Chhaava phenomenon in Burhanpur—A former Mughal hub

As per India Today, villagers who watched Chhaava, a historical film starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb, spread rumors of gold coins being buried near the fort. Burhanpur, once a key Mughal center, became the site of a late-night frenzy. Viral videos show villagers digging near Asirgarh Fort from 7 PM to 3 AM, using torches and metal detectors in hopes of unearthing treasure.

Authorities intervened after the videos gained traction online, but by the time they arrived, only dug-out pits remained. The police have since issued warnings against illegal excavation. While there is no evidence supporting the rumors, historical accounts suggest that gold treasures may indeed be buried in Burhanpur.

About Chhaava

Chhaava is a biopic on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the Maratha ruler and son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Directed by Laxman Utekar, the film is based on Shivaji Sawant’s Marathi novel Chhava. Vicky Kaushal leads the cast, with Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai, Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb, Ashutosh Rana as Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite, Neil Bhoopalam as Prince Akbar, Divya Dutta as Soyarabai, and Diana Penty as Zinat-un-Nissa Begum.

The film has emerged as Bollywood’s first blockbuster of 2025. As it enters its third week, Chhaava is on track to cross the coveted ₹500 crore mark. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, the Hindi version premiered on February 14, while the Telugu dub hit theaters on March 7.