February 19 dawned with statewide revelry in Maharashtra for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Jayanti, but Bollywood stole the spotlight by rallying behind ‘Raja Shivaji’. Vidya Balan and Bhagyashree’s Instagram post of the film’s poster turned the historic day into a launchpad for Ritesh Deshmukh’s magnum opus.
Quoting poetic lines of defiance against darkness, a warrior’s rewrite of history, and Swarajya’s dawn, they positioned the movie as ‘our king, our pride, our heritage’. Directed by Ritesh for Jio Studios and Mumbai Films, it hits screens May 1, 2026, across India in multiple tongues.
At its core is Ritesh as the youthful Shivaji Bhonsle, battling for autonomy, flanked by heavyweights like Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupta, and Genelia Deshmukh, the co-producer and his real-life partner.
This ensemble promises fireworks, with the poster’s reveal sparking viral trends and fan art. As a pan-India venture, it eyes massive footfalls, potentially rivaling big-budget spectacles. Ritesh’s transition to directing a legend adds intrigue—can he deliver a faithful yet entertaining portrayal? With Bhagyashree and Vidya’s seal of approval, ‘Raja Shivaji’ emerges as 2026’s most anticipated, blending Maratha valor with Bollywood polish to forge a new chapter in Indian cinema.