In celebration of Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, the creators of Riteish Deshmukh’s highly anticipated film, Raja Shivaji, have unveiled the first look poster. Directed by Riteish himself, this period drama stars him in the lead role, portraying the legendary Maratha king, Shivaji Maharaj, alongside notable Bollywood actors making special appearances.
On Thursday, Riteish shared his fierce portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his social media platforms. Accompanying the poster, he expressed in Marathi, “When darkness longed for light, a flame rose high… When history stood still, a young warrior chose to rewrite it. When a land yearned for honor, a son took an oath, and Swarajya was born. On this sacred Shiv Jayanti, we unveil the first look of Raja Shivaji. Our King. Our Pride. Our Legacy.”
The film is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026. On this significant day, Riteish also visited Shivneri Fort in Pune to pay homage to the great warrior at his birthplace.
About Raja Shivaji
Raja Shivaji is being produced on an unprecedented scale, promising to be a landmark film that fuses cultural pride with mainstream storytelling. The cast features a stellar lineup from both the Hindi and Marathi film industries, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, Genelia Deshmukh, and Riteish Deshmukh himself. As a pan-India film, Raja Shivaji aims to ignite discussions about the strength and potential of regional cinema on a global platform.
Set against a backdrop of clashing empires and rising rebellions, the film chronicles the remarkable journey of a young Shivaji, who bravely defied powerful adversaries to establish Swarajya. With an exceptional creative team that includes music legends Ajay–Atul and acclaimed cinematographer Santosh Sivan, who is making his Marathi cinema debut, Raja Shivaji is currently in production across Mumbai and Wai in Maharashtra. The film promises to deliver a visually stunning and emotionally captivating experience.