Ahead of the film’s release, Riteish Deshmukh and wife Genelia Deshmukh visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Temple in Bhiwandi, Thane to seek blessings. Talking about the film, Riteish said, “Raja Shivaji is a humble tribute to the great warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje by the entire team working on this film.”
The makers have already gained momentum with the release of the film’s anthem ‘Chhatrapati’ and song ‘Jai Shivrai’. Acclaimed music composers Ajay–Atul shared their vision behind the music, saying: “We knew from the start that this couldn’t just be a ‘big’ song, it had to carry emotion, truth and a sense of reverence. There’s pride in every note, but also a responsibility to honor what it is. When you work with a legacy like this, you leave it to people. Beautiful, but more than that, we hope it becomes something they deeply feel and remember.”
Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai has also praised the project, calling it a film made with “passion and nationalistic vigour”, and described the trailer as “so amazing”.
Mounted as a grand Indian spectacle, ‘Raja Shivaji’ blends visual scale with an emotional narrative rooted in the birth of Swarajya. At its core is a story of vision, courage and conviction, of a son who took a sacred vow and changed the course of history. First looks suggest a powerful mix of intensity, emotion and heroism designed to resonate across generations.
The movie stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh.
‘Raja Shivaji’ will release worldwide on May 1, 2026 in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu.
Stay tuned to this ETimes live blog for real-time updates on ‘Raja Shivaji’ from its theatrical release and box office performance, critical reviews, audience reactions and all the latest developments around the film.
