Riteish Deshmukh to Direct and Star as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Bilingual Film ‘Raja Shivaji

Actor-director Riteish Deshmukh revealed his upcoming film project, Raja Shivaji, on Monday. The film is based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire. According to a press release from the producers, the Marathi-Hindi bilingual will depict the story of a young Shivaji Maharaj who rebelled against the powerful powers and ultimately became the renowned Raja Shivaji. The 45-year-old actor-director, who will also portray Maharashtra’s greatest warrior in the film’s title role, stated that making a movie about Chhatrapati Shivaji was his dream project.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a mere historical figure; he is an emotion, a timeless saga of valour, and a beacon of hope that has illuminated hearts for over three and a half centuries. A rebel whose courage knew no bounds, he didn’t just rule land, he conquered hearts, earning the endearing title of Raja Shivaji,” Riteish, who directed the 2022 successful Marathi film, Ved, said in a statement.

The actor also unveiled the Raja Shivaji poster on Sunday, the eve of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj jayanti. Mumbai Film Company, Deshmukh’s in-house production company, and Jio Studios are producing the historical action drama. Binging the life story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been Deshmukh’s actor wife Genelia’s “biggest dream,” according to her. “We set out on a noble mission to add a narrative thread that enhances the fabric of our history and culture, not just to make a movie. Our greatest dream is Raja Shivaji, and Jyoti Deshpande and Jio Studios are the ideal partners for us.

The president of RIL’s media and entertainment division, Jyoti Deshpande, stated that the company is honored to work with Riteish and Genelia to tell the Raja Shivaji story. “Raja Shivaji is a living example of this vision; it’s not merely a local story; rather, it’s a deeply cultural story that cuts across boundaries of time and space,” Riteish remarked. Santosh Sivan shot the film’s cinematography, and well-known composers Ajay and Atul will provide the soundtrack. The Raja Shivaji movie’s producers have stated that filming will start this year. There are currently two more Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj movies in development. Sandeep Singh is directing one and Akshay Kumar is in the other. Mahesh Manjrekar is attached to direct.