Riteish Deshmukh to star and direct in 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj' biopic titled Raja Shivaji

Riteish Deshmukh

Filmmakers are rushing to tell the story of the great Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from the big screen. After filmmaker Sandeep Ssingh announced his next 'The Pride of Bharat- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj', Mukesh Ambani's Jio Studios and actors Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh's Mumbai Film Company have announced their collaboration for the film 'Raja Shivaji. The films were announced ahead of Shivaji Jayanti on February 19 which marks his 394th birth anniversary. Stories of valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are largely known to all. He founded the Maratha empire and when most of India was under Mughal rule.

According to a report in Variety, the film Raj Shivaji will be made in Hindi and Marathi languages simultaneously. It will trace the journey of the young Shivaji, who fought against the powers that be and was crowned as Chhatrapati (monarch). Riteish Deshmukh will direct and play the title role. Deshmukh debuted as a director and also starred in 2022 blockbuster "Ved." The cinematography is by Santosh Sivan (2023 Rotterdam title "Moha") and the music by the Ajay -Atul duo ("Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior").

Talking about the film, Genelia Deshmukh was quoted in Variety, "We embark on a noble quest, not merely to produce a film, but to weave a narrative thread that enriches the tapestry of our culture and history. ‘Raja Shivaji' is our biggest dream, and we couldn't have found a better partner than Jyoti Deshpande and Jio Studios, who have the legacy of doing the unthinkable."

Riteish Deshmukh said, "In the annals of history, there emerges a figure who transcends mere mortal existence - a legend, an icon, an eternal flame of inspiration. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a mere historical figure; he is an emotion, a timeless saga of valor, and a beacon of hope that has illuminated hearts for over three and a half centuries. Our deepest aspiration has always been to immortalize his awe-inspiring journey on the grand canvas of cinema - a journey of epic proportions, depicting the rise of a boy who defied the invincible, sparking the flames of Swarajya [a term meaning self-rule coined by Shivaji while he fought the Mughals0. A rebel whose courage knew no bounds, he didn't just rule land, he conquered hearts, earning the endearing title of ‘Raja Shivaji.'"