Abhishek Bachchan Makes Marathi Debut with Raja Shivaji, Reveals Riteish Deshmukh’s Long Dream

Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company’s Raja Shivaji brings together versatile powerhouses, Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan, under a one-of-a-kind endeavour, alongwith a formidable starcast. For Abhishek Bachchan, Raja Shivaji is more than a grand cinematic offering as it marks his first-ever Marathi film, a bold leap in his diverse filmography. The actor plays an undefeatable warrior, Sambhaji Shahaji Raje Bhosle, the lesser-talked-about elder brother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The recently released power-packed first look teaser of Raja Shivaji features Abhishek Bachchan in a never-seen-before avatar, clad in a warrior’s ensemble, roaring across the battlefield and upholding his brotherly bond with his Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, promising a spectacle that goes beyond the battles!

“It's my first ever Marathi film,” said Abhishek Bachchan and mentioned that it was Riteish Deshmukh’s dream to mount a film based on the life and legacy of one of India’s greatest warrior kings. "Riteish, who I considered to be my brother, has been dreaming about this from the first time that I ever met him about 25 years ago in Latur. I was shooting there for a film of mine called Zameen. And Riteish was just coming into the film industry, and he came to hang out with Ajay Devgn and me, who were shooting, and that's where our friendship began. And then we've gone on to collaborate on several films,” he shared.

The actor recalled a moment when he visited Riteish Deshmukh’s residence, where the actor revealed his “dream” to go beyond acting - to direct and make a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “So this is a dream he's harboured and worked on for several years.”

Raja Shivaji’s explosive first look teaser made its digital debut on 31st March, and it received a thunderous reaction from the audience, with many hailing the visual grandeur, action-packed sequences, intensity and heroism that resonates across generations. “The first look teaser has just come out. It released a couple of days ago. It's got wonderful, wonderful reactions,” he shared.

“Riteish has arguably made the most ambitious Marathi film made till date. I have no doubt about the kind of director that he is, which he has already proven in his last film. He's going to do something that is going to become a cornerstone for Marathi cinema. And I'm so, so happy for him, so happy to be a part of it, be part of telling the story. And I hope everybody likes the film because I really think it's going to be a seminal moment for Marathi cinema,” he added.

Mounted on a grand cinematic canvas, Raja Shivaji features high-octane action, rich world-building, and top technical excellence. With music by the celebrated duo Ajay–Atul and cinematography by internationally acclaimed Santosh Sivan, the film is set to deliver a grand visual spectacle with powerful emotional resonance.

It brings together a substantial starcast, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte, Genelia Deshmukh, and Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh.

About Raja Shivaji

Presented by Jio Studios and produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh under the banner of Mumbai Film Company, Raja Shivaji is set to release in cinemas worldwide on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu, ushering in a new era of storytelling that celebrates India’s history with scale, soul, and spectacle.