India’s Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company have planted their flag on Maharashtra Day 2026, revealing a world rollout for historic motion epic “Raja Shivaji” on May 1 of that yr.
The movie, helmed by Riteish Deshmukh (who additionally stars within the titular position), will concurrently launch within the Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam languages, positioning the story of one in every of India’s most celebrated warriors for each native and worldwide audiences.
“Raja Shivaji” chronicles the rise of younger Shivaji Bhonsale, who challenged the may of established empires to discovered the Maratha kingdom and lay the groundwork for “Swarajya” (self-rule) throughout a turbulent interval of Indian historical past.
The forged brings collectively heavyweight expertise spanning each the Hindi and Marathi-language movie industries, with Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, and Amole Gupte becoming a member of the ensemble. Genelia Deshmukh, who additionally serves as producer below the Mumbai Film Company banner, rounds out the star-studded forged.
Behind the digital camera, the manufacturing has celebrated music administrators Ajay–Atul dealing with the rating and veteran cinematographer Santosh Sivan making his Marathi cinema debut. Principal pictures is presently underway throughout places in Mumbai and Wai, Maharashtra.
“‘Raja Shivaji’ is more than just a film — it’s a celebration of Swarajya and what that means to every Indian,” stated Jyoti Deshpande, president of Jio Studios. “This vision could only be brought to life by someone who holds the story close to his heart, and Riteish, along with Genelia, has done just that with passion and purpose. Our goal is to bring the awe-inspiring life of Shivaji Maharaj, one of the greatest heroes to be born on the Indian soil, from India to the world. Backed by an ensemble of some of the finest talents from across industries, this film is one of the most ambitious ventures we’ve undertaken.”
Shivaji (1630-1680), who hailed from the Hindu faith, based the Maratha empire when most of India was below the rule of Muslim monarchs, profitable his territories utilizing a combination of navy strikes and strategic nous. At a time when the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb was persecuting Hindus, the neighborhood rallied by Shivaji, who was topped as Chhatrapati (monarch). During India’s independence motion, Shivaji was held in excessive esteem as a Hindu nationalist hero, a place he enjoys to today.
Deshmukh, who debuted as a director and in addition starred in 2022 blockbuster “Ved,” stated, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a historical figure — he is an emotion that lives in the hearts of millions. To be able to tell a part of his extraordinary story is both an honor and a great responsibility.”
The reputation of Shivaji could be measured by the truth that the tales of him and his associates have been advised in India greater than 60 instances throughout movie and tv, starting with “Sinhagad” (1923). Sandeep Singh‘s upcoming historical drama “The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” starring Rishab Shetty as Shivaji, is also underway and due a 2027 release. “Chhaava,” starring Vicky Kaushal as the legendary Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Shivaji’s son, is India’s largest hit of 2025 to date.
The strategic Maharashtra Day launch date holds specific significance, as the vacation commemorates the formation of the state the place Shivaji’s legacy stays profoundly influential.
Producer Genelia Deshmukh described the manufacturing as “a labor of love — a journey shaped by years of thought, research, and reverence,” underscoring their dedication to honoring the historic determine “who continues to inspire generations.”
The movie is being collectively produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh.
