Actor Riteish Deshmukh has asked fans to stop obsessing over the numbers and instead focus on the experience after the industry started buzzing that his big Marathi period drama Raja Shivaji was made on a ₹100‑crore budget. The film hit theatres on May 1, 2026, and is already drawing strong crowds in Marathi‑speaking regions, while also holding its own in Hindi‑language markets.
Putting the Budget Rumour to Rest
Addressing the speculation, Riteish told Hindustan Times that the only people who truly know the film’s actual budget are the producers. “About the figures floating around about Raja Shivaji’s budget, only the producers know the real budget,” he said. “The last thing we need to do as filmmakers is to discuss the budget of a film because it doesn’t affect anything.”
He went on to question the focus on cost, saying, “Budget se kya lena dena hai?” (“What does the budget have to do with anything?”). If someone asks him about the budget, he jokingly replies, “How much are you paying for a ticket to watch it?” When they say ₹100 or ₹250–300, he tells them, “That’s the budget.”
His message is simple: “One should stop talking about it. Let it be magical; you just go and experience the film.”
Why the “Budget Talk” Is the Wrong Focus
Riteish also reflected on how movie‑watching culture has changed over the decades. He recalled watching Sholay on the big screen as a child and never wondering, “Iska budget kya hai?” (“What’s the budget of this film?”). “I just wanted to have the big‑screen entertainment,” he said.
He pointed out that today, people are more interested in how much a film collects, how much an actor is paid, and what the budget is, instead of just enjoying the storytelling. “Those numbers are fed by us; it’s our mistake,” he added, noting that he and his production house have made seven films in Marathi without ever revealing the budget to the public.
A Star‑Studded Pan‑India Historical Epic
Raja Shivaji is a grand historical action‑drama produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, with a massive ensemble cast. The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Amol Gupte, and Genelia D’souza, with a special cameo by Salman Khan. Riteish himself plays a key role in the project, which marks his most ambitious production‑cum‑performance yet.
The story traces the early life of Shivaji Bhosale, detailing his rise as a young warrior challenging dominant powers to lay the foundation of Hindavi Swarajya (self‑rule for the Indian‑Hindu polity). The film blends large‑scale action, political drama, and emotional storytelling, with visuals and scale that have already impressed audiences in advance screenings.
“Just Experience the Film”
Ultimately, Riteish wants the conversation around Raja Shivaji to shift from price tags to impact. Instead of debating whether it cost ₹50 crore or ₹100 crore, he wants people to watch the film, feel the scale, and decide for themselves.
As he put it: “Stop talking about it, just go and experience the film.” And for a movie about the making of a legend, that might be the most fitting message of all.
