The controversy stems from Utekar's film Chhaava, which portrays the Shirke brothers as betrayers of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by aligning with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, leading to the Maratha ruler’s death. The Shirke family criticized the film for misrepresenting history and damaging their legacy.

On February 20, the family issued a legal notice, demanding a clarification and correction of the portrayal. In response, Utekar personally reached out to Bhushan Shirke, apologizing for any unintentional harm caused and clarifying that the film did not mention the warriors' surnames or village. The Shirke family has threatened statewide protests if their concerns are not addressed.