Raja Shivaji has officially opened its advance bookings for the Marathi version, signaling the start of what is expected to be a historic theatrical run for the legendary warrior epic. Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, the film is slated for a massive worldwide release on May 1, 2026, perfectly timed to capitalize on the Maharashtra Day holiday boost. With Jio Studios presenting the film under its Make in India, Show the World philosophy, the project represents one of the most ambitious historical productions to emerge from the region, backed by an estimated budget exceeding 100 crore.
The partnership between Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios and Riteish Deshmukh’s Mumbai Film Company has been in development for nearly eight years, reflecting the meticulous planning behind this large-scale venture. Shot over approximately 100 days in authentic locations like Mahabaleshwar, Satara, and Wai, the film chronicles the early years of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the establishment of Swarajya. This deeply personal project for Riteish Deshmukh follows a string of recent successes for Jio Studios, including Stree 2 and Dhurandhar 2, and the industry is watching closely to see if this language-agnostic production can achieve a similar level of global resonance.
Basically, the digital buzz is already translating into significant momentum on ticket-booking platforms. Within the last 24 hours alone, Raja Shivaji recorded 6.2K interests on BookMyShow, comfortably outpacing other high-profile upcoming titles like HJTIHH and KD The Devil. Even high-budget pan-India titles like Spirit, Toxic, and Peddi are currently trailing with 1K interests each over the same 24-hour window, underscoring the localized domestic hype for the Riteish Deshmukh starrer. Total interests on the platform have already crossed the 83,000 mark, signaling a massive opening day, particularly across the Maharashtra circuit. While the Marathi bookings are currently live in several regions, the Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam versions are expected to roll out across all major chains like PVR INOX and Cinepolis over the next 24 hours to meet the pan-India demand.
The film rests on a strong financial foundation, having reportedly secured a record-breaking 150 crore digital deal well before its theatrical launch. This strategy mirrors the ecosystem-led distribution model Jio Studios successfully employed for Dhurandhar 2. Adding to the theatrical pull is the high-voltage excitement surrounding Salman Khan’s cameo as Jeeva Mahala, which is expected to provide a major fillip to the Hindi version's performance. With a celebrated ensemble cast and the technical expertise of cinematographer Santosh Sivan and music directors Ajay-Atul, the production scale is designed to compete with recent historical blockbusters.
By natural course of trajectory, the combination of a major holiday release and the emotional connect of the subject matter should ensure a robust opening weekend. The release strategy is aimed at making the film a global event, with Jio Studios leveraging its vast distribution network to ensure maximum screen space. As the Hindi and Telugu bookings open up fully, the focus will remain on the pace of the pre-sales over the next 48 hours. If the current interest levels are any indication, Raja Shivaji is on track to challenge historical box office records and cement its status as a landmark achievement in Indian cinema.
Box Office
