Raja Shivaji is gearing up to make a strong debut at the box office. The film is the director and the protagonists Riteish Deshmukh in the main role and examines his life Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his struggles with Aurangzeb. Going by the early trends, the film may record the biggest release ever for a Marathi film.
‘Raja Shivaji’ advance bookings
The film has given an impressive performance in the advance bookings. As of 2 pm on Thursday, less than 15 hours before bookings closed, it had sold nearly one lakh tickets for the opening day. According to Sacnilk, the film has already collected around 2.5 crores in advance sales. This includes around 20 lakhs from its Hindi version. As reported, the tickets are being sold at a brisk pace of around 5,000 per hour.
Opening day screenings of ‘Raja Shivaji’
With strong buzz and grand scale narrative, the film is expected to open big. Trade experts predict that it can earn 6-7 crores in Marathi on the first day. The Hindi version may not be at the same level. However, a contribution of over Rs 1 crore is still expected, mainly from Maharashtra. About 90 percent of the bookings have come from the state, indicating strong regional tension.Overall, the film will collect Rs 8-9 crores on its opening day across India. There is also a chance to cross the 10 million mark. The current record for the highest opening day collection in Marathi cinema is held by ‘Sairat’. the director Nagraj Manjulethe film earned 4.2 crores on the first day. Even after accounting for inflation, Raja Shivaji seems to be doing better. It is also expected to beat Riteish Deshmukh’s previous record. The 2022 film Ved opened at Rs 3.5 crore.
Vicky Kaushal praises the film
In its latest promotional update, JioStudios has shared a video featuring Vicky Kaushal and Riteish Deshmukh. The clip showed them interacting and discussing the film. Riteish recalled a memorable moment from the shoot. He spoke on the set where the crew chants of “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai” created a powerful atmosphere.In the video, Vicky was also seen reacting after watching the film. He said, “I don’t think Marathi cinema has seen an action sequence like this.” He also extended his best wishes to Riteish before his release. Sharing the clip, the production house wrote, “Two iconic stories, elevated by performances that truly do justice to them! Pre-booking is open (U/A 16+) (Marathi), book your tickets today! ‘The Founder of Hindavi Swarajya’ ‘Raja Shivaji’ hits theaters on May 1, 2026.“
