Riteish Deshmukh drops motion poster of epic biopic Raja Shivaji starring Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and more

Raja Shivaji poster unvieled

Bollywood actor and filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh has unveiled the official motion poster of his grand historical venture, Raja Shivaji, marking a major milestone in the project’s journey.

India’s Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company have announced a worldwide release for the historical action epic Raja Shivaji, set to premiere on Maharashtra Day, May 1, 2026.

Taking to his Instagram, Riteish posted an eye-catching motion poster, showcasing the film's ambitious scope and vision.

Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, Genelia Deshmukh, and Riteish Deshmukh are among the strong ensemble cast members of Raja Shivaji, which will be directed by Deshmukh himself.

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As per Variety, the film chronicles the inspirational ascent of young Shivaji Bhonsale, who founded the Maratha kingdom by defying the power of hegemonic empires.

It looks at how, at a turbulent time in Indian history, he established the principles of Swarajya, or self-rule. Shivaji, who was born in 1630, became a fearless leader and a brilliant strategist who established his dominion during a period when strong Muslim rulers controlled a large portion of India. Hindu communities steadfastly supported him because of his defiance of the notoriously intolerable Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Later, Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati, a ruler who is still regarded as a representation of Hindu bravery and pride, especially during and after India's independence movement.

Riteish accompanied the poster with a heartfelt caption: “Presenting cinematic tribute to Maharashtra's adorable deity, great mighty Rajadhiraj Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj... #राजाशिवाजी May 1, 2026! Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company are coming together for this grand epic story!”

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Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh are producing the movie, which also features music by the well-known composer-composer team Ajay-Atul and photography by Santosh Sivan. To ensure that it reaches a pan-Indian audience, Raja Shivaji will be released in six languages: Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Speaking to Variety, Riteish reflected on the significance of the project, saying, “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 honour and a great responsibility.”