Villagers in Madhya Pradesh dig for rumoured treasure after watching THIS recent Bollywood film

It started like something out of a movie– villagers in Madhya Pradesh, metal detectors in hand, shovels digging under the glow of torchlight, all chasing the promise of buried Mughal-era gold. But this wasn’t a scripted treasure hunt. A rumour, fueled by a film, had sent them scrambling through the fields, convinced that riches lay just beneath the surface. So, what set off this frantic midnight search?
It all started with the film Chhaava, which featured the historic Asirgarh Fort in Burhanpur. The movie stirred curiosity and sparked rumours of hidden treasure– especially gold coins. PTI reports that with Vicky Kaushal playing Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the story took on a life of its own, making people believe that treasure was hidden somewhere near the fort. What began as just a film soon felt real to the villagers, who became convinced that a fortune was waiting to be found.

Word spread like wildfire across the village. Local residents, many having watched Chhaava, grabbed whatever tools they could find and made their way to the fields near Asirgarh fort, ready to dig for what they believed could be a long-lost treasure. Armed with shovels, metal detectors, and even torches, these hopeful treasure hunters began digging late into the night.
As the excitement grew, videos of the late-night digging spread across social media. In these clips, people can be seen eagerly digging, with some even claiming to have found gold coins. However, there has been no official confirmation of any treasure. Still, the belief in hidden riches was enough to keep the crowds coming.
Watch the viral video:

The chaos, however, wasn’t without consequences. Farmers whose fields were being disturbed voiced frustration over the disturbance to their land. As per a report presented by India Today, Wasim Khan, a local resident, shared his concern: “Asirgarh is buzzing with people searching for treasure. There are reports of gold coins being found in Haroon Sheikh’s field, and the digging has been going on for several days now. It’s causing a lot of trouble for the landowners.”
The gold hunt brought crowds of people to the village, all hoping to find treasure. But for the locals, it meant their fields were being dug up in the chaos.
As per the India Today report, seeing the growing chaos, authorities stepped in. Burhanpur’s Superintendent of Police, Devendra Patidar, assured people that an investigation was underway. “We are aware of the reports and are investigating. If anyone is caught digging illegally, action will be taken,” Patidar said.

By the time the police arrived on Thursday, the crowds were gone, leaving behind only freshly dug pits– and no sign of the rumoured treasure. What was once a scene of excitement had turned into one of confusion and disappointment.
While the story of hidden gold may have been nothing more than a rumour, this incident highlights how deeply a movie can influence real-world behaviour. Chhaava, which was based on historical events, portrayed Asirgarh fort in a way that sparked the imagination of many, leading them to believe that the treasure was more than just fiction.
The film, produced by Dinesh Vijan and starring Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna, and Akshaye Khanna, was purely fictional. However, its depiction of the fort sparked the belief that treasure was buried beneath the ground. This incident showed how cinema, combined with local folklore and rumors, can blur the lines between fiction and reality.