Jio Studios and Aatpat Productions have officially released the teaser and revealed the release date for their upcoming film from acclaimed Indian filmmaker Nagraj Manjule. Khashaba is a biographical sports drama based on the life of Indian Olympic wrestler Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav.
The film Khashaba is set for a worldwide theatrical release on January 1, 2027.
The film is a factual historical record of events, presented in chronological order, depicting the remarkable life of Olympic wrestler Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, who etched his name in history by becoming India’s first individual Olympic medalist after Independence.
In the newly released teaser, viewers are transported to the wrestling arenas of Maharashtra before following the extraordinary journey of Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, where he secured a historic bronze medal for India. Set against the backdrop of a young independent India, the film celebrates determination, perseverance, and sporting excellence.
The teaser also offers the first glimpse of the film’s visual scale, recreating Maharashtra’s traditional wrestling akharas before charting Khashaba Jadhav’s journey to the Olympic stage. While keeping the narrative largely under wraps, it establishes the sporting drama’s historical backdrop and the significance of his achievement for a newly independent India.
The teaser was released by Jio Studios with the caption:
“Witness the extraordinary story of India’s first Olympic medal winner #Khashaba in cinemas worldwide 01.01.2027.
Teaser Out Now.”
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The film marks Manjule’s highly anticipated return to Marathi-language cinema following his National Film Award-winning Fandry and the 2016 blockbuster Sairat. It comes after his 2022 Hindi-language feature debut Jhund, starring Amitabh Bachchan, and his Prime Video series Matka King, starring Vijay Varma, which premiered earlier this year.
Khashaba has been in development for several years after Jio Studios first announced the project in 2023 as part of its ambitious content slate. The newly released teaser marks the first substantial look at the film since its announcement, offering audiences an early glimpse of Manjule’s vision for bringing the Olympian’s story to the big screen.
Jio Studios previously backed the blockbusters Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which rank among the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, as well as Raja Shivaji, the highest-grossing Marathi-language film of all time. This time, the studio has partnered with Aatpat Productions to bring Khashaba to the big screen.
While the identity of the actor playing Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav has not yet been revealed by the makers, the supporting cast includes Jitendra Joshi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Girish Kulkarni, Vaibhav Mangale, Gargee Kulkarni, and Chhaya Kadam.
Interestingly, the teaser deliberately keeps the face of the actor portraying Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav hidden, with the makers choosing not to reveal the casting even as the film’s first footage has now been unveiled.
The film features music by acclaimed composer duo Ajay–Atul. Jyoti Deshpande and Gargee Kulkarni are producing Khashaba, with Nagraj Manjule directing the feature.
The project is already among the most anticipated Marathi-language releases of 2027, not only because it chronicles the life of one of India’s greatest sporting pioneers, but also because it marks Manjule’s return to directing a Marathi feature after the landmark success of Sairat.
Khashaba releases in theatres worldwide on January 1, 2027, opening the new year with the inspiring story of one of India’s legendary sportsmen.
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