

During 18th century India, the Marathas emerged as the most powerful empire in the nation until the Afghan King Ahmad Shah Abdali plans to take over India. Sadashiv Rao Bhau is brought in to save the empire from the king which then leads to the third battle of Panipat.
Production
Gowariker's obsession with scale — thousands of extras, practical chaos.
Costume
Sanjay Dutt's Abdali looks like a metalcore album cover come to life.

Director
Ashutosh Gowariker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gowariker filmed near actual Panipat with 500+ horses; some battle formations took six hours to set up per shot.
The film sparked controversy with Peshwa descendant protests and Rajasthani anger over Suraj Mal's portrayal as 'greedy' rather than strategically cautious.