Vidya Balan He revealed that joining ‘Raja Shivaji’ was very personal and said that he felt proud and excited to be a part of a Marathi film based on his life. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Speaking at the trailer launch, the actor said he had already decided when to say yes Riteish Deshmukh he approached her, but he held back his excitement until he left the house. For Balan, the project held special meaning as he was born and raised in Mumbai and saw the film as a major cultural moment.At the trailer launch of ‘Raja Shivaji’, Balan recalled hearing for the first time that a Marathi film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was in the works and knowing that Riteish Deshmukh was doing it. He said the news caught his attention immediately, especially since others were already attached to the film.
Vidya Balan for joining ‘Raja Shivaji’
Balan said, “I heard they are making a Marathi film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Ritesh is doing it.”Balan shared his first reaction when he heard about the project. “And I was thinking Sanju is doing it, Abhishek is doing it. Why didn’t Ritesh come to me?” he said “Then I thought maybe there wouldn’t be a role for me, or I don’t like it as an actor.”
Marathi film pride for Vidya Balan
Balan said Riteish eventually came to him with the script, but tried not to show how eager he was already. “Then he came. I decided I was going to do it. But he came and told me the story. And I was listening very carefully. I told him I’ll think about it and tell him. Because I didn’t want to express too much excitement.”Once he left, he added with his answer that he immediately called her. “He doesn’t really know I was waiting for him to come. I left the house and called him and told him I’m doing it. It’s a matter of great pride for me.”Balan closed by emphasizing how much the film means to him. “As I was born in Mumbai, I grew up here. So to be a part of a Marathi film, and a Marathi film of this scale and the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a matter of great pride for me. And I am very excited. And what a treat!”‘Raja Shivaji’ follows the journey of young Shivaji as he rises against powerful forces and goes on to become Chhatrapati. The film focuses on the phase of his life associated with the rise of the Maratha Empire. It is slated to release on May 1, 2026 in Marathi and Hindi, with a Telugu dubbed version also planned.
