Feb 19, 2026 6:09pm IST
Riteish Deshmukh Unveils First-Look Poster of ‘Raja Shivaji’ on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
With Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti being celebrated today, Jio Studios, along with Riteish Deshmukh, has unveiled the first official poster of their film “Raja Shivaji.” Directed by Deshmukh, the film is among the most eagerly awaited ones, and the actor-director shared the fierce poster on his social media, featuring himself in the film as the legendary Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The poster shows Riteish Deshmukh dressed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Social media reactions to the look have been largely positive so far, with fans expressing curiosity and excitement about the film. “Raja Shivaji” is an ambitious bilingual (Marathi and Hindi) action-drama that brings together formidable creative forces, with music by the celebrated duo Ajay–Atul and cinematography by Santosh Sivan.
Related Stories
Sources tell Variety India that while "Raja Shivaji" is a Marathi bilingual film, Riteish and team are exploring other languages too. The actor - director spent weeks doing recee to lock locations for the shoot and the film has been shot in several real locations with action and combat scenes being a major highlight.
The official synopsis for the Riteish Deshmukh starrer reads: “More than the story of a king, 'Raja Shivaji' chronicles the journey of a son who took an oath and rose against formidable powers to carve the path for Swarajya. It is the tale of a beloved national warrior who chose rebellion over submission and forged the course of India’s resistance movement. With ‘Raja Shivaji,’ the makers aim to take this powerful Indian story beyond linguistic boundaries and present it as a cinematic tribute mounted on a truly global scale.”
Presented by Jio Studios and produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia D'Souza under the banner of Mumbai Film Company, “Raja Shivaji” is set to bring the legendary story to cinemas worldwide on May 1, 2026.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.