Riteish Deshmukh’s ‘Raja Shivaji’ Ignites the Box Office: Day 3 Report
Riteish Deshmukh’s ambitious period epic, Raja Shivaji, stormed into theaters on May 1st. After weeks of high-octane hype and strong advance bookings, the opening day figures are in, confirming a powerhouse start for the historical drama.
The Numbers: A Strong Debut
The film benefited significantly from its bilingual release, though the home turf provided the strongest support. Across 6,192 shows nationwide, the film achieved the following:
- Total India Gross: ₹13.51 crore
- Total India Nett: ₹11.35 crore
- Marathi Version Contribution: ₹8.00 crore
- Hindi Version Contribution: ₹3.35 crore
With these figures, Raja Shivaji officially secures the fourth-biggest opening day in Maharashtra’s history, trailing only behind Dhurandhar 2, Chhaava, and Pushpa 2.
Historical Benchmarks
How does Deshmukh’s passion project stack up against other cinematic tributes to Indian history? While it couldn’t quite catch the massive momentum of recent blockbusters, it remains a heavyweight contender:
| Film | Opening Day (Nett) |
| Chhaava (2025) | ₹33.50 crore |
| Tanhaji (2020) | ₹15.10 crore |
| Raja Shivaji (2026) | ₹11.35 crore |
| Manikarnika (2019) | ₹8.75 crore |
A Grand Scale Production
More than just an actor, Riteish Deshmukh serves as the writer and director of this retelling of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary life. The film’s technical prowess is bolstered by the musical duo Ajay–Atul and the visual artistry of world-renowned cinematographer Santosh Sivan.
The Star-Studded Ensemble
The film features a massive cast bringing 17th-century history to life:
Genelia Deshmukh as Saibai, Sanjay Dutt as the formidable Afzal Khan, Abhishek Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, Fardeen Khan as Mohammad Adil Shah, Salman Khan (Special Appearance) as the loyal warrior Jeeva Mahala
With its strong start and positive word-of-mouth regarding its scale, Raja Shivaji is poised for a massive opening weekend.
