'Raja Shivaji' has been released in theatres on May 1, 2026, and is directed by Riteish Deshmukh. The actor also plays the lead role of 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.'
The story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been told in various films over the years. Riteish Deshmukh has now brought another experience of the same storyline on the big screen, in the form of Raja Shivaji. Released on May 1, 2026, the historical drama has been shot in Marathi and Hindi. Apart from playing the lead, Riteish has also directed and written the film with Sandeep Patil and Ajit Wadekar.
The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande along with Riteish’s wife, Genelia. The initial glimpses of the film created a lot of hype while leading to some debates for certain reasons. With an ensemble cast, the movie brings the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, addressing everything about his life and the journey that led to the birth of Swaraj. Keep reading to know if Raja Shivaji deserves to be enjoyed only in theatres!
While a lot of people have read the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in their history books, Raja Shivaji tries to delve deeper into the facts that have possibly not been explored. Considering that Riteish is one of the writers, he deserves praise for the one-line story that will make anyone sit and watch the film for more than three hours. While the beginning shows everything that happened before the rise of the great king, the film slowly shifts focus to the main topic.
'Shah Jahan' wants to rule over India, but 'Adil Shah' and 'Nizam Shah' are refusing to submit and have continued fighting. 'Adil Shah' later captures 'Shahaji Bhosale,' who was just announced as the vatandari, with help from 'Afzal Khan' in Karnataka. On the other hand, 'Shahaji’s' wife, 'Jijabai,' gives birth to 'Shivaji.' The seed of Swaraj is also born inside 'Shivaji' at one point. 'Shivaji' starts taking control of a few places until the death of his father changes the situation, bringing him face-to-face with 'Afzal Khan,' who is going to stand as an obstacle in the path of building Swaraj.
Compared to other films, Raja Shivaji tries a different take on the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The story does not keep itself restricted to the rise of Shivaji. The movie opens up about the intelligence of the greatest warrior of India. It shows his warrior skills and the techniques he used to take down the opponents. The film showcases his intelligence by bringing out his best, where he used to aim at the opposite side’s mind before going for a physical attack.
The approach of the writers to bring the unknown sides of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also helps the viewers to connect with the lead character. The story also shows how his mother, 'Jijabai,' left a positive influence on his life by imbuing him with strong values from birth. The family emotions are specifically expected to leave a big impact due to the situations that emerge around the country, and everyone struggles between their responsibilities and staying with each other at the same time.
Films with a duration of three hours or more have now become a common habit for the film industry. Raja Shivaji explains a lot of things without keeping anything on a cliffhanger. This is possibly the main reason why the film’s Marathi version runs for 195 minutes and the Hindi version for 187 minutes. However, what works in favour of the film is the engaging screenplay, where a fast pace is maintained without stretching the scenes.
Furthermore, the length does not make anyone feel restless due to the excellent job done by the technical team. The music is one of the biggest highlights. Ajay-Atul’s music contributes in the best way possible in multiple scenes throughout the film. The movie looks realistic due to the cinematography by Santosh Sivan. The action sequences are also well-crafted. They are designed to draw applause and whistles in theatres while evoking strong patriotic feelings.
As mentioned, Raja Shivaji has a long lineup of cast members. But one person shines among everyone else, and that is Riteish Deshmukh. Despite directing the film at the same time, the actor ensures to stay true to the character of 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj' without exaggerating anything. His dialogue delivery, screen presence, and everything else ensure full entertainment for the audience. After Riteish, it is Abhishek Bachchan who deserves a special mention. The actor gets a clap-worthy entry and leaves an impression when it comes to action scenes.
Sanjay Dutt as 'Afzal Khan' is equally good. The veteran actor has always left a mark with his negative roles, and he has done the same this time in Raja Shivaji. Vidya Balan is outstanding as she captures the emotional resonance and political sophistication without opting for any kind of melodrama. Genelia Deshmukh and Bhagyashree also show their true potential on screen. Fardeen Khan’s character as 'Shah Jahan' could have been written in a better way, giving him a little more screen space. Among others, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Amole Gupte, Jitendra Joshi, and everyone else leave an impact with their presence on screen. Moreover, a big superstar makes a cameo.
Have you watched Raja Shivaji in theatres? Let us know your opinion about the new film.
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