Chhaava star Vicky Kaushal impressed by Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji: ‘Marathi cinema hasn’t seen action like this’

Vicky impressed by ‘Raja Shivaji’

On Tuesday, JioStudios shared a video capturing an “epic meet” between the two actors. The clip shows them warmly interacting and discussing the film, with Riteish recalling how chants of “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai” on set gave him goosebumps.

Vicky was then shown watching a glimpse of the film — and was clearly impressed.
“I don’t think Marathi cinema has seen an action sequence like this,” he said, while also wishing Riteish success for the release.

The makers announced that advance bookings are now open, with the film slated to hit theatres on May 1, 2026.

‘Chhaava’ success

Released in 2025, Chhaava — based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj — emerged as a major blockbuster, earning over ₹800 crore globally.

Backed by Maddock Films, the film featured an ensemble cast including Divya Dutta, Rashmika Mandanna, Vineet Kumar Singh and Akshaye Khanna. Vicky’s portrayal of Sambhaji Maharaj drew widespread critical acclaim.

About ‘Raja Shivaji’

Raja Shivaji is a historical action drama chronicling the life of Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire. The film is produced by Genelia Deshmukh and Jyoti Deshpande.

The cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi and Amole Gupte.

The film also marks the acting debut of Riteish and Genelia’s sons, Riaan and Rahyl, who portray different stages of Shivaji Maharaj’s childhood.

The trailer, released on April 20, drew mixed reactions — with praise for its scale but criticism over casting choices and alleged historical inaccuracies. Riteish’s look as Shivaji Maharaj also sparked debate among viewers.

Despite the divided response, the film remains one of the most anticipated Marathi releases of the year.