Riteish Deshmukh’s Passion Project Is Here — And Maharashtra Is Ready to Erupt!

Marathi cinema is having its moment, and Raja Shivaji is set to be its biggest statement yet. Written, directed by, and starring Riteish Deshmukh, this grand biographical epic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has generated a pre-release buzz unlike anything Marathi cinema has seen before.

The film closed its final advance booking by selling over 65,000 tickets across PVR Inox and Cinepolis in Maharashtra alone — with PVR Inox accounting for approximately 72% of those admissions. But here’s what’s truly exciting: the non-national chains told an even bigger story. Regional circuit Miraj Cinemas sold ~12,000 tickets and MovieMax clocked ~10,000 tickets, signalling ferocious demand in the interiors and mass centres of Maharashtra.

Raja Shivaji Advance Booking — Key Numbers

Why This Film Carries the Weight of an Entire Culture?

There’s something deeply personal about Raja Shivaji — for Riteish Deshmukh, for Marathi audiences, and for Indian cinema as a whole. Riteish didn’t just act in this film; he poured years of passion into directing it too. That kind of behind-the-camera commitment from a lead actor always translates into something felt on screen.

The ensemble cast reads like a roll call of Indian cinema’s finest — Sanjay Dutt, Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Vidya Balan, Bhagyashree, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Amol Gupte, with Salman Khan making a special appearance. Backed by Mumbai Film Company and Jio Studios, this is the most expensive and ambitious Marathi production ever mounted.

While the advance numbers won’t rival those of Dhurandhar: The Revenge or Pushpa 2, a ₹10 crore+ opening day in Maharashtra alone would be a landmark moment for the regional industry. The fact that the Hindi belt is also contributing nearly ₹3 crore further validates its pan-India appeal.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj remains one of the most revered historical figures in Indian history — his legacy of courage, administration, and secular governance continues to inspire millions, making a grand cinematic retelling of his life a natural cultural event.

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