Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company’s “Raja Shivaji” has delivered the biggest opening weekend in Marathi-language cinema history, grossing INR43.66 crore ($4.6 million) across its first three days in India.
Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, the historical epic’s opening weekend surpasses all previous Marathi cinema records. “Sairat” (2016), the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time at $13.7 million, posted an opening weekend of $1.3 million. “Timepass 2” (2015) and “Mauli” (2018) each opened to $1.2 million.
After its opening weekend, the film sits at No. 7 on the list of all-time Marathi language grossers behind “Sairat,” “Baipan Bhari Deva,” “Ved,” “Pawankhind,” “Natsamrat” and “Lai Bhaari.”
“Raja Shivaji” chronicles the rise of young Shivaji Bhonsale, who challenged the might of established empires to found the Maratha kingdom and lay the groundwork for “Swarajya” (self-rule) during a turbulent period of Indian history. The film traces the evolution of the young warrior into one of India’s most revered historical figures. The production draws from lesser-known stories surrounding the leader’s life, focusing on his strategic acumen and valor.
Deshmukh directs and stars in the titular role, with the ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh.
The production features music by Ajay-Atul and cinematography by Santosh Sivan. Jio Studios is presenting the Mumbai Film Company production, with Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh producing.
The state of Maharashtra led the charge with packed cinemas and strong footfalls, while the film’s Hindi-language version also gained traction across markets.
“Raja Shivaji” released worldwide on May 1 in the Marathi and Hindi languages.
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