# Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji Rewrites Marathi Cinema History — And It’s Just Day 1!

URL: https://technosports.co.in/riteish-deshmukhs-raja-shivaji-rewrites/  
Published: 2026-05-01  
Updated: 2026-05-01  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Riteish Deshmukh had a dream. To tell the story of Maharashtra’s greatest warrior king — not in Hindi, not for Bollywood, but in Marathi, for his people. And on May 1, 2026 — Maharashtra Day — that dream didn’t just release in theatres. It exploded.

*Raja Shivaji* has officially become the **biggest opening day film in Marathi cinema history**, and the numbers are just getting started.

### The Record-Breaking Box Office Story

The film closed its advance booking at a staggering ₹5.14 crore gross (excluding block seats), with the original Marathi version alone raking in ₹4.25 crore gross (₹3.60 crore net) — surpassing the long-standing opening-day benchmarks of *Sairat* and *Timepass 2*, which were approximately ₹3.60 crore net each. [Business Standard](https://www.business-standard.com/entertainment/riteish-deshmukh-s-raja-shivaji-creates-history-with-record-marathi-opening-box-office-collection-nc-126050100504_1.html)

The Marathi version secured 1,600 shows — a record for any Marathi film — while the overall screen count across India stood at approximately 3,674, including 2,074 Hindi-language shows. [Koimoi](https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/raja-shivaji-box-office-day-1-advance-booking-1-day-to-go-riteish-deshmukhs-magnum-opus-sells-93k-tickets/)

This isn’t just a film opening — this is a cultural moment. For everything on how regional Indian cinema is scaling new heights, check out [TechnoSports’ entertainment coverage](https://technosports.co.in) for the latest updates.

![Riteish Deshmukh](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ritt-1024x576.webp)

### Raja Shivaji — Quick Facts at a Glance

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| **Film** | Raja Shivaji |
| **Director & Lead** | Riteish Deshmukh |
| **Release Date** | May 1, 2026 (Maharashtra Day) |
| **Language** | Marathi & Hindi |
| **Budget** | ₹80+ Crore (approx.) |
| **Producers** | Jio Studios, Mumbai Film Company |
| **Music** | Ajay-Atul |
| **Day 1 Advance (Total)** | ₹5.14 Crore Gross |
| **Key Cast** | Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh, Salman Khan (cameo) |

### What Makes This Film Special?

Riteish Deshmukh not only directed and starred in the film, but also co-wrote it — and added a deeply personal touch by casting his own son Rahyl Deshmukh as Young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. [Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/box-office/2026/raja-shivaji-box-office-collection-hit-or-flop-budget-records-everything-to-know-about-riteish-film-514271.html)

The story chronicles the rise of [Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji) — one of India’s greatest military strategists and founder of the Maratha Empire — from a young rebel to a legendary ruler. Cinematography by the acclaimed Santosh Sivan and music by Ajay-Atul give the film a visual and sonic scale rarely seen in regional Indian cinema. [India TV News](https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/news/raja-shivaji-advance-box-office-riteish-deshmukh-s-film-sees-strong-day-1-pre-sales-details-inside-2026-04-30-1039471)

For in-depth sports and entertainment crossover stories, don’t miss [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in).

### FAQs

### **Q: What records did Raja Shivaji break on Day 1?**

 It became the highest-ever Marathi film opener through advance bookings alone at ₹5.14 crore gross, surpassing *Sairat* and *Timepass 2*. Walk-in audiences pushed the numbers even higher.

### **Q: Who are the key cast members of Raja Shivaji?**

  
The film stars Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh, and features a special cameo by Salman Khan.