Riteish Deshmukh Unveils First Poster of ‘Raja Shivaji’, His Directorial on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Actor-filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh unveiled the first look of his upcoming directorial venture Raja Shivaji on Wednesday. The historical epic will see Deshmukh portraying the revered Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film is slated for a theatrical release on May 1, 2026.

The announcement came via actor Abhishek Bachchan, who shared the poster on Instagram, calling it a “cinematic tribute to India’s legendary warrior king.” The poster offers a shadowy and regal glimpse of Deshmukh in character, hinting at a powerful and dramatic portrayal.

The first-look poster features Deshmukh dressed in traditional Maratha armour, holding a sword against a sunlit backdrop, exuding power and resolve. While the full look of the actor remains partially hidden, the poster has already generated buzz on social media for its grandeur.

Alongside Deshmukh, the film boasts a notable ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Bhagyashree, Sachin Khedekar, Fardeen Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Amole Gupte, and others.

Riteish Deshmukh, who earlier directed the Marathi film Ved (2022), returns to the director’s chair for this ambitious historical project. Raja Shivaji marks his first major Hindi-language period drama as both actor and filmmaker.

Speaking about the project in an earlier interview, Deshmukh had expressed his long-standing desire to bring the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the big screen, emphasizing historical accuracy and emotional depth.

Deshmukh joins a growing list of actors portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in various upcoming projects. Akshay Kumar will appear as the warrior king in Mahesh Manjrekar’s Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat, while Rishab Shetty is set to star in Sandeep Singh’s The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

This surge in cinematic tributes underscores a renewed interest in historical storytelling within Indian cinema.

Fans and industry colleagues reacted with excitement to the poster reveal. Many praised the cinematic tone and visual style, while others expressed curiosity about Deshmukh’s interpretation of the Maratha legend.

“Finally, a powerful tribute from Maharashtra’s own,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another commented, “Can’t wait to see Riteish as Shivaji Maharaj. The poster is 🔥🔥.”

Raja Shivaji is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, coinciding with Maharashtra Day. Promotional campaigns and teasers are expected to roll out in the coming months.