Riteish Deshmukh is reportedly all set to direct his second movie based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, titled Raja Shivaji.
In 2022, Riteish Deshmukh made his directorial debut with the Marathi movie, Ved, which became blockbuster hit at the box office. It was among the highest-grossing Marathi films that year. Raja Shivaji will be in Marathi and Hindi. Jio Studios with Mumbai Film Company are producing the movie. Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia D’Souza will also serve as producers. The movie is scheduled to release in 2025.
Check out the announcement poster:
Riteish Deshmukh to play lead role in Raja Shivaji
On February 19, the actor took to social media to make the announcement. He captioned the post with, “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 rebel whose courage knew no bounds, he didn’t just rule land, he conquere.”
A source close to the production revealed, “This is not just a film but an emotion for Riteish Deshmukh. He has decided to invest all his energies towards bringing this passion project on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to life. Riteish will not just be directing the film but will also play the titular part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The basic pre-production has concluded. Riteish is now looking to take the film on floors soon.”
The source further added, “The National Award Winning Cinematographer, Santosh Sivan will be making his debut in Marathi Cinema with this film. It is being planned as the most ambitious in the film industry. The music is composed by the reliable duo of Ajay-Atul. It’s a legacy film and Riteish is well aware of the expectations. He will be leaving no stone unturned to bring forward the most authentic film on the life of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”
Stay tuned for more updates on Raja Shivaji.
