Raja Shivaji, By Riteish Deshmukh in the lead, this film has been drawing attention since its release on May 1. The film, which primarily focuses on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has opened to a strong response. With a wide release across Maharashtra and steady collections in its initial days, it has remained part of the ongoing discussion. Alongside its performance, new details about the making of the film have also come out. Riteish Deshmukh recently spoke about the approach taken during production, especially how the cast came together for the project.
Actors Worked For Free In Raja Shivaji
Riteish Deshmukh has shared that the actors associated with Raja Shivaji chose not to take payment for their roles.He stated that everyone contributed by charging nothing, describing it showing gratitude towards Maharaj rather than just a regular commercial project.
Speaking about the process behind the film, Riteish said “Salman Khan is my brother, he was in both my films. I was working on writing the film for three and a half years”, He said that the story itself could not be limited to a single film, given the scale of Shivaji Maharaj’s life and history. The effort, as he explained, was to present the narrative without altering or simplifying historical details.
He also pointed out that the film has been released in both Marathi and Hindi. With schools heading into the summer break, he added that the film could serve as a way for younger audiences to learn about Shivaji Maharaj through cinema.
Cast And Key Roles In The Film
The film features a large ensemble from both Hindi and Marathi cinema. Riteish Deshmukh leads the project, while Salman Khan appears in a guest role as Jiva Mahale, known as Shivaji Maharaj’s bodyguard.
Abhishek Bachchan is seen as Sambhaji Shahji Bhosale, the elder brother, and Sanjay Dutt plays Afzal Khan. The cast also includes Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh.
Box Office Response And Scale Of The Project
Since its release, Raja Shivaji has recorded strong collections, with reports indicating earnings of around Rs. 33 crore within the first three days. The film has also been given a wide release across Maharashtra, where it has secured a high number of screens.
Backed by Jio Studios and produced under Mumbai Film Company, the film has been mounted as a large-scale historical project. It is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh. The film plans to depict the life and glory of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through a cinema and storytelling way, bringing together multiple characters and events associated with his journey.
