Raja Shivaji trailer out: Riteish Deshmukh brings Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy to life in historical drama

The Marathi-language trailer of Riteish Deshmukh’s upcoming film, Raja Shivaji, has finally been unveiled. The movie, directed and produced by Riteish himself, offers a glimpse into the life of the valiant Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as he puts up a fierce fight against the Mughals. The historical drama also boasts an impressive cast, including Riteish’s wife, actress Genelia D’Souza, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan and Bhagyashree. The trailer was launched on April 20 at a special event in Mumbai, which was attended by some of the cast members.

Decoding Raja Shivaji’s trailer

Raja Shivaji’s trailer opens to Shivaji asking his older brother about the Mughal flag hoisted in their land instead of the Maratha one. To this, his brother replies that ‘Swarajya is a prerequisite to command a flag’, reminding a young Shivaji that Swarajya can only be achieved through rebellion, a statement that left an imprint on Shivaji.


Soon, Riteish Deshmukh makes a powerful entry as Shivaji, fighting off hundreds of invaders singlehandedly with his sword, despite being badly injured. This sets the tone of the movie, highlighting that Shivaji can go to extreme lengths to achieve Swarjaya, never bowing down to the Mughals.

More about Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji

While Genelia Deshmukh plays the role of Shivaji’s wife Saibai, Abhishek Bachchan slips into the shoes of his elder brother Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale. Meanwhile, Sanjay Dutt essays the antagonist Afzal Khan and Vidya Balan is seen as the evil empress, Badi Begum. The trailer is replete with multiple action sequences, brutal bloodshed and a fight for Maratha legacy, interspersed with moments of love and loss, promising an edge-of-the-seat ride.

At one moment in the trailer, Afzal Khan asks Badi Begum whether Shivaji should be dragged to the dungeon, bound in chains like his father, or should he be killed instantly. But in one dialogue, Shivaji, with fire in his eyes and unwavering courage in his heart, goes, ‘Marathas cannot be reduced to ashes. Marathas rise like a phoenix from the ashes,’ which ultimately forms the crux of the narrative.

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Raja Shivaji, co-produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh under the banners of Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, also stars Salman Khan in the cameo of Jeeva Mahala, Shivaji’s most loyal warrior. The film will have a worldwide premiere on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu.