Riteish Deshmukh is currently gearing up for his next release, a film that is based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Kingdom. The movie features an ensemble cast led by Riteish in the title role, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh. It brings to life the extraordinary legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on a scale rarely seen before in Marathi cinema, mounted as a truly pan-India spectacle. The much-awaited historical drama Raja Shivaji is one of the most talked-about films of the year. After its recent trailer launch, it has generated even more hype. The controversy over a key scene featuring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, along with debates around playing the titular role, has further added to the buzz. Amidst all, Bageshwar Baba passed a comment on the Maratha King which didn’t go down well with Ritiesh. Now, the actor has taken to social media and reacted to the spiritual guru’s claims.
Riteish Deshmukh SLAMS Bageshwar Baba
For the unversed, Bageshwar Baba reportedly said in Nagpur, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj grew very tired of fighting wars; he felt exhausted. One day, he went to Ramdas Swami. He took off his crown and placed it down, saying, ‘I do not want to fight wars anymore. You look after this crown; you handle this kingdom. We shall follow your orders. We can no longer fight; we are very tired and need rest. We wish to do nothing for a few days.’”
Riteish Deshmukh, who has also directed Raja Shivaji, didn’t ignore his statement and decided to slam his claims about Maharaj. On X (formerly Twitter), Riteish wrote, “When someone comes along and spews some distorted nonsense about our cherished deity, as a , this is unacceptable and infuriating.” The actor also shared that such futile attempts to trap it within frames will be swallowed up in the belly of time.
Riteish Deshmukh honours and celebrates the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Raja Shivaji. He directs and acts in the central role. Known as the greatest Maratha emperor, Shivaji rewrote India’s history with his achievements and bravery.
Further, he added that just as the mountain ranges of the have existed for millions of years before, so too will that one name endure for crores of years in the future. “And that name is.. Pratap Purandar… of the Kshatriya lineage… Lord of the Throne… Emperor of Emperors… the Wealthy Rajashiv Chhatrapati Maharaj.”
Riteish Deshmukh SLAMS Trolls
More About Raja Shivaji
With a runtime of 195 minutes, Raja Shivaji joins the growing list of long Indian films that have crossed the three-hour mark. The list includes Animal, which ran for 203 minutes, Pushpa 2 – The Rule at 200 minutes, Dhurandhar at 214 minutes, Dhurandhar The Revenge at 229 minutes, and Border 2 at 199 minutes.
Raja Shivaji stars Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The cast also includes Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, Bhagyashree, Sachin Khedekar, Amole Gupte, and Jitendra Joshi. Riteish and Genelia’s Mumbai Film Company produces the film with Jyoti Deshpande’s Jio Studios.
Earlier, Riteish Deshmukh officially revealed Salman Khan’s involvement in Raja Shivaji during the grand finale of Bigg Boss Marathi Season 6, where he appeared alongside Genelia Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan. The announcement was met with loud applause and quickly spread across social media. While Riteish called it a ‘major role’, reports indicate it will be a special cameo filmed over two days.
For the unversed, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the in western India. He established an independent kingdom by challenging the Deccan Sultanates and the Mughal Empire.
Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh in Raja Shivaji
The film is set to release in cinemas worldwide on May 1, 2026 in Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu.