Raja Shivaji (2026) Movie Review & Box Office Collection: A Grand Tribute to the Maratha King
Release Date: May 1, 2026 | Genre: Historical Action Drama | Runtime: 195 Minutes | Languages: Marathi, Hindi, Telugu
Introduction
If you’ve been waiting for a big, bold, and emotionally charged Indian historical film in 2026, then Raja Shivaji is exactly what you’ve been hoping for. Released on Maharashtra Day — May 1, 2026 — this larger-than-life cinematic experience has already set the box office on fire and stolen hearts across the country. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, the film tells the inspiring story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary founder of the Maratha Empire. Let’s dive into what makes this film a must-watch and how it’s performing at the box office!
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Movie Overview & Cast
Raja Shivaji is a 2026 Indian historical action drama co-written and directed by Riteish Deshmukh, based on the life of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. The film is produced by Genelia Deshmukh and Jyoti Deshpande.
The story follows the journey of the young Shivaji, who fought against powerful opposing forces and was eventually crowned as Chhatrapati monarch.
The film boasts a star-studded cast:
- Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
- Genelia Deshmukh as Maharani Saibai
- Sanjay Dutt as Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb
- Abhishek Bachchan in a key antagonist role
- Bhagyashree as Shivaji Maharaj’s mother
- Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte in supporting roles
- Salman Khan in a special cameo as Jeeva Mahala
It is the most expensive Marathi film ever made, with a budget of ₹100 crore.
Direction & Storytelling
Riteish Deshmukh wears two hats here — director and lead actor — and manages to carry both responsibilities with remarkable confidence. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh described the film as handling the narrative with both grandeur and emotional weight, and praised the authenticity with which this historically significant subject has been brought to the screen.
The story covers Shivaji Maharaj’s early years, key battles, his meeting with Rani Saibai, and his eventual coronation — all told with a scale that feels genuinely epic. However, some critics have noted that the film’s grand ambitions occasionally outpace its storytelling depth. One critic noted the film is “epic in length but not in scope,” pointing to slow-motion action sequences that lack freshness. That said, most audiences feel the emotional core of the film more than compensates for its minor shortcomings.
Performances
Riteish Deshmukh — Career-Best Outing
Audiences are unanimous that this marks the finest performance of Riteish Deshmukh’s career to date, with viewers noting that he has deeply internalised Shivaji Maharaj’s vision, leadership, and commanding aura. Watching him step into the shoes of one of India’s greatest warrior kings and pull it off convincingly is truly something special.
Supporting Cast
Genelia Deshmukh in the role of Maharani Saibai, Sanjay Dutt and Abhishek Bachchan as antagonists, and veterans like Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, and Bhagyashree have all added significant weight to the film’s narrative.
Salman Khan’s Cameo — The Show-Stopper
Salman Khan’s cameo is the most talked-about moment on social media — the moment he appears on screen, audiences in theatres respond with thunderous applause and a truly spine-tingling experience. It’s short but unforgettable!
Visuals, Music & Technical Aspects
Cinematography by Santosh Sivan and music by Ajay-Atul have been widely praised, especially during large-scale battle sequences. Viewers have described individual frames as looking like paintings. Ajay-Atul’s soundtrack has one particularly catchy tune — the title song. Some visual effects, however, have received mixed feedback from a section of the audience.
The production design deserves special mention — massive fort sets were constructed at Film City in Mumbai, and several actual historical forts were closely studied and recreated with meticulous attention to detail.
Box Office Collection
This is where Raja Shivaji truly makes history! 🎉
Raja Shivaji has opened to a record-breaking start at the box office, emerging as the biggest opening ever for a Marathi film based on advance bookings. The film ended its advance booking period with a gross of ₹5.14 crore (excluding block seats).
With ₹4.25 crore (₹3.60 crore nett) from the original Marathi version alone, the movie ranks first among Marathi films in terms of opening day box office — surpassing the long-standing records of Sairat and Timepass 2, which each had approximately ₹3.60 crore nett openings.
Trade analysts projected an opening day collection for the Marathi version in the range of ₹6–7 crore, with the potential to reach ₹10–12 crore driven by high walk-in footfalls.
The Hindi version has also gathered momentum, though it’s the Marathi heartland of Maharashtra that has truly embraced this film with open arms.
Final Verdict
Raja Shivaji is a sincere, large-hearted tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It’s not a flawless film — some scenes could have been tighter, and the runtime of over three hours will test your patience. But what it lacks in technical perfection, it more than makes up for in passion, scale, and soul. Taran Adarsh rated the film 4.5 stars, calling it a “power-packed” and magnificent tribute to one of India’s greatest warrior kings.
For fans of Indian history, Marathi cinema, and grand period dramas — this one is a must-watch!
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who directed Raja Shivaji (2026)? Riteish Deshmukh directed the film and also played the lead role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Q2. When was Raja Shivaji released? The film released on May 1, 2026, coinciding with Maharashtra Day.
Q3. What is the budget of Raja Shivaji? The film was made with a budget of ₹100 crore, making it the most expensive Marathi film ever produced.
Q4. How much did Raja Shivaji collect on Day 1? The Marathi version alone earned approximately ₹4.25 crore gross on Day 1 from advance bookings, breaking all previous Marathi film records.
Q5. Does Salman Khan appear in Raja Shivaji? Yes! Salman Khan plays a special cameo as Jeeva Mahala, a loyal warrior of Shivaji Maharaj, and his appearance has been one of the biggest crowd-pleasing moments in the film.
Q6. In which languages is Raja Shivaji available? The film released simultaneously in Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu.
