'Panipat': All about Arjun Kapoor's character Sadashivrao Bhau

Panipat (2019) is an upcoming Bollywood movie based on the third battle of Panipat. Written and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, the film is set to release later this year. The cast of Panipat includes Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Zeenat Aman, and Padmini Kolhapure among a host of other actors. Arjun Kapoor will be playing the role of the Maratha leader Sadashivrao Bhau. Here is all you should know about the character.

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Maratha leader Sadashivrao Bhau

Sadashivrao Bhau is the son of Peshwa Baji Rao's brother Chimaji Appa. The leader lost his mother and father at a young age. He aspired to become a Peshwa from a young age. He was trained under Ramchandrababa Shenvi in Satara till he became a Peshwa. His first battle as a Peshwa was in 1746 as Babuji Naik and Fateh Singh Bhonsle had failed to gain the territories of western Karnataka. In a one-year campaign, Sadashivrao Bhau and his political advisers Mahadoba Purandare and Sakharam Bapu won their first battle at Ajra, south of Kolhapur. By 1960, he had annexed the cities of Kittur, Bagalkot, Badami, Navalgund, Parasgad, Gokak, Torgal, Haliyal, Harihar, Yadwad, Umbal, Giri, and Basavapatna.

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His major battle was the battle of Panipat in the year 1760 against Ahmedshah Abdali. All the Muslims leaders of North India were persuaded by Abdali and Najib to join the Afghans in the name of religion. Threated by this, Raja Vijay Singh of Jodhpur and Kachawa Prince Madho Singh of Amber also allied, and joined Abdali to be safe from the northern force of Afghans who were known to be very hostile towards Hindus, as the Afghans had massacred a lot of people in Punjab and Mathura.

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Meanwhile, in the South of India, Nanasaheb Peshwa chose Sadashivrao Bhau to lead the Maratha army to Delhi. Sadashivrao Bhau was unfamiliar with the politics in those regions yet he was selected over Malharrao Holkar (Peshwa's chief general) and Raghunathrao (Peshwa of Maratha Empire) who had deep knowledge of northern India. The cost of this was high as he was not able to form an alliance with the kings in that region. An army of 45,000-60,000 warriors marched to the north. The Maratha forces of Holkar and Scindia also joined the army. He used hit-and-run tactics successfully many times.

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