Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, May 5: Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company’s historical epic ‘Raja Shivaji’ has created history by registering the biggest opening weekend ever for a Marathi-language film, grossing Rs 43.66 crore in its first three days across India.
Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, the film has surpassed previous Marathi cinema benchmarks by a wide margin. For comparison, ‘Sairat’ (2016), the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, had collected around $1.3 million during its opening weekend, while ‘Timepass 2’ (2015) and ‘Mauli’ (2018) opened to approximately $1.2 million each.
Following its strong debut, ‘Raja Shivaji’ has already secured the seventh spot among the highest-grossing Marathi films, trailing titles such as ‘Sairat’, ‘Baipan Bhari Deva’, ‘Ved’, ‘Pawankhind’, ‘Natsamrat’ and ‘Lai Bhaari’.
The film chronicles the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, tracing his journey from a young warrior to the founder of the Maratha kingdom and a symbol of Swarajya (self-rule). It highlights lesser-known aspects of his life, focusing on his strategic brilliance and valour during a turbulent period in Indian history.
Riteish Deshmukh not only directs the film but also essays the titular role. The ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh.
Backed by Jio Studios, the film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh. It features music by Ajay-Atul and cinematography by Santosh Sivan.
The film has witnessed strong footfalls across Maharashtra, with packed theatres driving collections, while its Hindi version is also gaining traction in other markets.
‘Raja Shivaji’ released worldwide on May 1 in both Marathi and Hindi languages.