Image Credit @iamakshk Via Instagram
Raja Shivaji 2026, directed and acted by Riteish Deshmukh, is a historical action drama that tells the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, starting from his childhood and culminating in his final battle with the Bijapur Sultanate. Here are the key detailed points you’ll want to know about the film before its digital release.
OTT Release Window
Rajesh Kumar’s movie Raja Shivaji, which is directed by and starring Riteesh Deshmukh, will go on to premiere digitally on 26th June 2026 on Netflix. The narrative of the Maratha ruler’s struggle to establish Swarajya has been presented in the historical epic.
Dual Runtime Edits
There are two separate cuts for viewers to choose from. Both the localized Hindi language cut and Marathi language cut have the same runtime of 187 minutes (3 hours, 7 minutes) and 195 minutes (3 hours, 15 minutes), respectively.
Highest-Grossing Marathi Film
It was a massively production-budgeted film with ₹75 crore as the budget, making it the costliest film ever made in Marathi. It became a record-breaker for its worldwide theatrical run as it grossed more than ₹130 crore worldwide.
Pre-Release Financial Success
Even before the movie entered the regular movie theaters, the movie made back its entire production cost and went on to make huge profits of ₹193 crore just on non-theatrical satellite releases, digital streaming, and music rights.
Riteish Deshmukh’s Passion Project
Multi-talented star Riteish Deshmukh took the lead while producing the film. He was the main director, director of the co-scripting, producer, and title actor as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Focus on Core Historical Events
The film doesn’t deal with his entire life, but it focuses sharply on the emergence of young Shivaji Maharaj, his strategy of establishing Swarajya, and his epic encounters with Afzal Khan, marked by the final victory of the latter.
Massive Cross-Industry Casting Ensemble
The project is unique in having a large cast of actors, with Sanjay Dutt playing the role of the imposing commander Afzal Khan, Abhishek Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, and Fardeen Khan as Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
Major Top-Tier Cameos
The show is really a theatrical presentation and has a lot of highly celebrated guest appearances, including Salman Khan, who takes a cameo role in the show, sporting a lot of action as the legendary Maratha warrior, Jiva Mahale.
Production Collaborators
The film’s distribution was a result of its being financed by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, of which the lead actress, Genelia Deshmukh, is a part, which guaranteed wide distribution and visibility, both in India and abroad.
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