Ram Gopal Varma Hails Raja Shivaji as “Slashing and Smashing the Box Office” After ₹11.35 Cr Opening Day
Historical drama Raja Shivaji, directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, has opened to a strong box office response, collecting ₹11.35 crore across Hindi and Marathi versions on its first day of release.
Released on May 1, 2026, the film has drawn notable attention for its scale, cast, and dual-language release strategy. The Marathi version has emerged as the stronger performer, significantly outperforming the Hindi release in terms of occupancy and audience turnout.
Strong Opening Day Numbers
According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the film earned ₹8 crore from Marathi screenings and ₹3.35 crore from Hindi shows on day one. With around 6000 shows across India, the film recorded contrasting occupancy trends — approximately 68% for Marathi shows and around 16% for Hindi.
Mumbai emerged as a key stronghold, with Marathi screenings in the city witnessing close to 73% occupancy, while Delhi-NCR showed comparatively lower engagement for the Hindi version.
RGV’s Bold Reaction Goes Viral
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Riteish Deshmukh and producer-actor Genelia D’Souza, praising the film’s impact and theatrical response.
In his post, Varma wrote:
“Hey @geneliad, CONGRATS on the way your #RajaShivaji is both SLASHING and SMASHING the BOX OFFICE. @Riteishd both as DIRECTOR and ACTOR is creating MAYHEM in the THEATRES and he literally looks #ShivajiMaharaj REINCARNATED.”
His enthusiastic reaction quickly gained traction online, adding further buzz to the film’s opening performance.
Also Read :- https://x.com/RGVzoomin/status/2050174326260039802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2050174326260039802%7Ctwgr%5Ef0dd60659f5207aff268e78fd5d00af5206cac41%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndtv.com%2Fentertainment%2Fram-gopal-varma-reviews-riteish-deshmukhs-raja-shivaji-slashing-and-smashing-the-box-office-11439674
A Grand Historical Canvas
Raja Shivaji features an ensemble cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt, and Boman Irani. The film also marks the acting debut of Riteish Deshmukh’s son, Rahyl Deshmukh.
Backed by Mumbai Film Company and presented by Jio Studios, the project has been described by its makers as a decade-long passion project.
At the trailer launch, Riteish reflected on the long journey behind the film, revealing that initial attempts to bring the story to life began in 2016 but were delayed due to multiple setbacks, including the pandemic.
With a strong opening and significant regional response, Raja Shivaji has positioned itself as one of the more talked-about releases of 2026 so far.
