Mar 20, 2026 6:00pm IST
Arjun Rampal Joins Cast of Rishab Shetty’s Film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (EXCLUSIVE)
Arjun Rampal, who's currently winning accolades for playing Major Iqbal, a brutal ISI mastermind, in “Dhurandhar: The Revenge”, has signed another high-profile project. Variety India has learned that Rampal has joined the cast of “Kantara” star Rishab Shetty's most ambitious upcoming film, “The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”.
Rampal will play one of the major antagonists in the film, and is the latest addition to the cast, which also features Shefali Shah as Chhatrapati Sivaji's mother, Rajmata Jilabai. Directed by Sandeep Singh, the film is expected to go on floors in the second half of this year.
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“The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj” is envisioned on a large-scale, the film aims to celebrate the legendary Maratha warriors' life, valour, and his strategic brilliance in the most visually stunning narrative. The film is described as an epic saga filled with themes of bravery and honour, celebrating a warrior who fought against all odds, challenged the night of the Mighty Mughal Empire, and forged a legacy that can never be forgotten.
The film marks Arjun Rampal's first project he has signed following the release of Dhurandhar. Looking ahead, he will soon be seen alongside Aditi Rao Hydari and Avinash Tiwary in Imtiaz Ali's romantic Netflix series, "O Saathi Re." He also has several projects which are stuck for release, including Abbas Mustan's two films, "3 Monkeys" and "Penthouse," "Punjab 95," "Blind Game," and the "Battle of Bhima Koregaon."
Meanwhile, Rishabh Shetty's film is not the only project in the making on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Riteish Deshmukh has also made a massive-scale film on his life, titled “Raja Shivaji”, which releases in theatres on May 1, 2026. The film features an ensemble cast, including Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Bhagyashree, and Sachin Khedekar, among others. It’s a take on Raje Shivaji that has never been seen before.
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