The trailer of Riteish Deshmukh’s upcoming historical film ‘Raja Shivaji’, based on the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was unveiled on April 20. Several videos from the event show Riteish Deshmukh and his wife Genelia getting emotional at the trailer launch. Riteish Deshmukh got teary-eyed as he revealed that he had planned to make the film in 2016, but it couldn’t happen back then. He said that in 2023 it finally felt like the right time, and Raja Shivaji eventually went on floors. Riteish broke down as he thanked Abhishek Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt for being part of the film, saying they supported him without questioning him even once.
Riteish Deshmukh’s Emotional Moment At Raja Shivaji Trailer Launch
At the trailer launch of
Raja Shivaji, Riteish Deshmukh thanked Sanjay Dutt for agreeing to do the film instantly. “Sanju sir se mila, to unhone kaha ke our fathers knew each other very well. Let’s do this for them,” said Riteish. He also called Abhishek Bachchan his ‘big brother’ and thanked him. “My big brother Abhishek. He didn’t question even once. He stood by me like a brother, and I am very grateful to him,” he said. He also thanked Boman Irani, Vidya Balan and other team members, and got emotional.
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He also talked about his decade-long dream of wanting to make the film. “It’s been 10 years… I first wanted to play Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 2016, but it didn’t happen. Then I tried again, and COVID happened,” recalled Riteish. He then added, “It felt like Shivaji Maharaj was telling me, ‘Wait, my child… it’s not the right time.'” He said that the film finally went on floors in 2023. “This time, I felt like he came to me and said, ‘Yes, now is the time,'” Riteish added.
Riteish Deshmukh Thanks Wife Genelia
Genelia also got emotional as Riteish said, “Dreaming is not a big deal… anyone can dream. But having someone who stands by you while you are dreaming… that is Genelia. Someone who believed in me, someone who made this dream a reality… that is Genelia.”
Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt, who plays Afzal Khan in Raja Shivaji, spoke about his close bond with Riteish Deshmukh at the trailer launch. He described Riteish as a younger brother and said he fully trusts his decisions. He also reflected on the long-standing connection between their families, recalling the association between his father Sunil Dutt and Riteish’s father Vilasrao Deshmukh. Sanjay added that their relationship goes back many years, and there was no question of saying no to the project.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan added, “Like Sanju sir said, Riteish is like a younger brother. He just has to ask, and we’ll all show up. There’s no doubt… if Riteish asks for something and I don’t show up, that’s just not possible.”
About Raja Shivaji
Raja Shivaji features Riteish Deshmukh in the titular role and boasts an impressive ensemble including Abhishek Bachchan, Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, and Amole Gupte, among others.
Shot simultaneously in Marathi and Hindi, the film is slated for a theatrical release on May 1, 2026.
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