On an auspicious day of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti (19th February 2026), the Indian movie industry presented the first-ever big vision on screen. The grand project "Raja Shivaji" at Jio has officially been unveiled in the form of the premier first-look poster. Jio Studios along with Mumbai Film Co has also released the first-look poster of the grand "Raja Shivaji".
This cinematic homage to the Maratha warrior king (Raja Shivaji) in the movies was more than just a film; it was a mega-wide pan-India event which was scheduled for the world date of May 1, 2026, which coincides with Maharashtra Day.
This Vision: Riteish Deshmukh Returns to Directing
After Breaking the Bank as a Movie star: Riteish Deshmukh Comes Back to the Director's chair to Return to the Plate in Raja Shivaji; a Major Task in Reality. In Raja Shivaji, he assumes both the directing responsibility and the persona of the eponymous Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The front of the look shows the warrior-king Riteish standing on the battlefield with a grimace upon his sword, with the Bhagwa Dhwaj (saffron flag) looming behind him. "Silence before the storm" This piece of imagery perfectly captures the "silence before the storm", a solemn vow to give birth to Hindavi Swarajya. In this way, it symbolizes the silent solemnity that led to its birth.
A Powerhouse Technical Team
In order to reflect the size and power of both the Maratha legacy and today that can hardly be matched in India, the filmmakers have assembled a world-class technical staff;
- Cinematographer: Santosh Sivan will be making his first appearance in a Marathi film. He brings a scale rarely seen in Indian biopics, visually.
- Music: The duo Ajay-Atul will compose the score. Famed for their ability to spark deep patriotism and passion, their music is likely to be a linchpin of the movie's influence.
- Production: The film is presented by Jio Studios and produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh in the Mumbai Film Company.
A Star-Studded Pan-India Ensemble
Raja Shivaji in the form of a huge bilingual production, which will be set in Hindi and Marathi with dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam also being made, has been set by Raja. The release of the posters also confirmed a good ensemble cast which includes
- Sanjay Dutt (Reportedly playing Afzal Khan)
- Abhishek Bachchan
- Vidya Balan
- Siddharth Jadhav & Jitendra Joshi
- Genelia Deshmukh (Reportedly as Maharani Saibai)
The Journey of a National Icon
Unlike traditional action films, Raja Shivaji aspires to capture the emotional and strategic depth of this 17th-century ruler. This film traces the journey seen by a young rebel from the outset, refusing to be cowed by powerful nations and instead looking for a way of independence.
With May 1st, 2026 as the date of official release, the Story of the People's King reaches all over the globe on this day which celebrates Maharashtra's pride.
