Bollywood movie review: Raja Shivaji (Marathi/Hindi)

Genre: Historic biopic

Starring: Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt

There’s no denying the scale and intent behind Raja Shivaji – a lavish ₹100 crore spectacle that aims to blend history, heroism, and mainstream cinematic appeal, all put together simply to realise the lead actor-director Riteish Deshmukh’s dream to make it big on the silver screen.

The film is clearly a passion project, since Riteish has a reputation of being a comedy actor, starring in comic roles along with groups of ‘also-rans’ in many films during his two-decade-long career sans any peaks, and one can occasionally feel that baggage at play. When an actor so strongly linked to humour steps into a deeply revered, historical role, there’s often a lag in audience acceptance.

Interestingly, this isn’t unique to Riteish. Many actors who shift genres face the same hurdle. The difference is that historical epics demand immediate conviction – there’s very little room for the audience to warm up to a new persona. Riteish might have to work harder to command that unquestioned authority, but the bigger question now is, ‘will Riteish hereon do the type of roles he has been doing all through?’

Ambition alone, however, doesn’t quite guarantee impact, and Raja Shivaji ends up being a mixed experience to viewers who tend to draw up parallels with similar flicks like Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chaava and Ajay Degn-starrer Tanaji, both of which were blockbuster hits globally and served as yardsticks. In comparison to these, hence, it seemed lacking.

Riteish, in the titular role, delivers one of his most sincere performances to date. He brings restraint and dignity to Shivaji Maharaj, avoiding caricature and opting instead for quiet authority. However, his portrayal occasionally lacks the gravitas needed for such a towering historical figure. As a director, Riteish shows flashes of vision – particularly in battle staging and emotional beats – but the storytelling tend to falter here and there. The film often feels overstuffed, as if trying too hard to justify its scale.

The much-publicised appearances of Bollywood heavyweights like Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Salman Khan add star value but not really substance. Abhishek delivers a measured performance, arguably the most grounded among the trio, but his screen time is limited. Sanjay Dutt leans into his usual imposing persona, which works in parts but feels repetitive. Salman Khan’s cameo, while crowd-pleasing, feels more like a marketing decision than a narrative necessity. And, as Riteish reportedly revealed, all the big stars acted for free, given their cordial equation with him.

Bhagyashree, on the other hand, is a pleasant surprise. She brings emotional depth and maturity to her role, offering some of the film’s most genuine moments. Her performance stands out precisely because it doesn’t try to dominate the screen.

Musically, the duo Ajay-Atul deliver a rousing score that elevates several sequences. The background music, in particular, complements the grandeur and helps maintain momentum during slower stretches. However, the songs themselves are less memorable than expected.

Cinematography is one of the film’s strongest aspects. Sweeping landscapes, detailed set pieces, and well-composed battle scenes give Raja Shivaji a visual richness that’s hard to ignore. The use of natural light and earthy tones adds authenticity. That said, the VFX is inconsistent – some sequences are impressively seamless.

The biggest question – has Riteish ‘arrived’ as an actor-director? The answer is… not quite yet. He shows promise, certainly more than many would expect, but he hasn’t fully mastered the balance between scale and storytelling.

As for box office recovery, in Marathi circuits, it could perform decently due to cultural resonance, but Hindi screens are less certain of its survival beyond two weeks.

Verdict: ★★★☆☆