A big-screen moment is turning into a deeply personal one for actor-director Riteish Deshmukh. As he prepares to bring a grand historical story to theatres, the project has quietly become a family affair
with a very young debutant at its heart.
The upcoming film Raja Shivaji marks the acting debut of Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh’s 10-year-old son, Rahyl Deshmukh. The child actor plays a young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The trailer of the film was unveiled at a launch event in Mumbai on Monday. It introduces audiences to Shivaji’s childhood, with a focus on his early thoughts on swaraj. Rahyl appears in these opening moments, marking his first on-screen appearance.
In the film, Riteish takes on the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while Genelia portrays his wife, Saibai. Alongside the emotional and personal elements, the trailer also teases large-scale battle sequences, depicting Shivaji’s fight against the Mughals during his journey to establish swaraj.
Also Read: ‘Cute Sanskari’: Riteish And Genelia Deshmukh’s Kids Delight Fans With Their Namaste
Speaking at the event, Riteish expressed gratitude to those who supported the film. He said, “I am very thankful to Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan and the entire team of Raja Shivaji who decided to become a part of this movie. Abhishek stood with me like a brother.” Genelia, who is also backing the film as a producer, was visibly emotional during the launch.
Rahyl, born in 2016, is the younger son of the couple, with their elder child Riaan born in 2014. The brothers are often spotted in public with their parents and are known for their polite interactions with photographers. Riteish and Genelia frequently share glimpses of their family life and holidays on social media.
Riteish had earlier opened up about his parenting approach during the launch of his show Yaaron Ki Baraat in 2016. He had said, “It’s totally up to them what they want to become in their lives. It’s their choice. As parents, we should not decide what our children should become. I want my kids to decide their future.”
Directed by Riteish himself, Raja Shivaji is based on the life and legacy of the Maratha empire’s founder. The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh and features a wide ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi and Amole Gupte.
The film is slated to hit theatres on May 1.
