Mumbai, May 1 - Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company's historical action drama Raja Shivaji has scripted history at the box office even before hitting the big screens. The film has scored the biggest opening ever for a Marathi film based on advance bookings alone, setting the stage for a massive opening.

Record Advance Booking Sets the Tone

Directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, Raja Shivaji closed its advance booking at 5.14 crore gross crores (without block seats), including a historic 4.25 crore gross (3.60 crore net) for the original Marathi version alone. This is a landmark figure for the industry and comfortably places the film at the top in terms of opening day collections among Marathi releases.

What makes this even more significant is that the film has already matched peak opening-day benchmarks through advance sales alone, with spot bookings and walk-ins expected to push the final Day 1 total even higher. With 3.60 crore net in advances, Raja Shivaji has gone past the long-standing opening-day figures of Sairat and Timepass 2, which scored around 3.60 crore net each.

Strong Maharashtra Performance Drives Numbers

The film's exceptional start is largely driven by its Marathi version, which has recorded strong occupancy across multiplexes and single screens alike in Maharashtra. On the other hand, the Hindi version has seen some momentum in advance sales with opening day figures already nearing 1 crore gross before release.

The scale, subject, and mounting of Raja Shivaji have clearly struck a chord with audiences. With this opening, the film has not only set a new record but also raised the commercial ceiling for Marathi cinema, proving that regional films can deliver blockbuster-level openings with the right mix of content and presentation.