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RGV Praises Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji Box Office Smash

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has praised Riteish Deshmukh's historical drama 'Raja Shivaji' for its strong box office performance after its May 1 release. Riteish Deshmukh, who directed and stars in the film, thanked audiences but urged fans not to record or upload spoiler videos from theatres. The film features a star-studded cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, and a special appearance by Salman Khan. The movie also marks the acting debut of Riteish and Genelia's son, Rahyl.

Key Points: RGV Hails Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji Box Office

  • RGV praises Riteish Deshmukh's dual role as director and actor
  • Raja Shivaji released May 1, 2026 in Hindi and Marathi
  • Riteish requests fans not to upload spoiler videos
  • Film features Salman Khan's special appearance and Rahyl's debut
2 min read

"SLASHING, SMASHING the BOXOFFICE": Ram Gopal Varma praises Riteish Deshmukh's 'Raja Shivaji'

Ram Gopal Varma congratulates Riteish Deshmukh as Raja Shivaji dominates box office. Riteish requests fans not to share spoilers.

"SLASHING, SMASHING the BOXOFFICE": Ram Gopal Varma praises Riteish Deshmukh's 'Raja Shivaji'
"@Riteishd both as DIRECTOR and ACTOR is creating MAYHEM in the THEATRES - Ram Gopal Varma"

Mumbai, May 2

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has reacted to the strong response to the historical drama 'Raja Shivaji,' which is directed by and stars Riteish Deshmukh.

The film released in theatres on May 1, 2026, and has been receiving a solid response from audiences in both Hindi and Marathi.

As the film continues to draw crowds, Ram Gopal Varma took to social media to praise the team. Congratulating Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, who also stars in the film and is one of its producers, Varma shared a strong message about the film's performance and Riteish's work.

Sharing his excitement about the film's success and Riteish's dual role as actor and director, Ram Gopal Varma wrote, "Hey @geneliad, CONGRATS on the way your #RajaShivaji is both SLASHING and SMASHING the BOXOFFICE. @Riteishd both as DIRECTOR and ACTOR is creating MAYHEM in the THEATRES and he literally looks #ShivajiMaharaj REINCARNATED."

Take a look

Earlier in the day, Riteish Deshmukh also spoke to fans after seeing the response in theatres. Thanking audiences for their love, he shared a video message and made a simple request to protect the film's experience for others.

In his message, the actor urged fans not to record or upload scenes from theatres, especially key moments that could spoil the story. However, he said that viewers can still share photos or stills, as long as they do not reveal important parts of the film. Along with the video, he also shared a caption in Marathi that translates to, "A humble request: Please do not upload videos on social media while watching the movie."

The film, which hit theatres on Friday, May 2, also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi and Amole Gupte. One of the highlights for many viewers has been Salman Khan's special appearance, which has been receiving strong reactions in theatres. The film also marks the acting debut of Riteish and Genelia's son, Rahyl.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sneha F
Honestly, I'm a bit skeptical. Another film about a historical figure with splashy action and no real depth? Hope Riteish bhai has done justice to the script. But thumbs up for bringing Shivaji Maharaj to a younger generation who only knows him from textbooks. The Salman cameo is a smart touch 😉
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Rohit L
Bhai, I saw it yesterday in Pune. The crowd was literally cheering during the coronation scene. Riteish as Shivaji Maharaj? He killed it. And Genelia's production quality is top-notch. RGV might be controversial, but here he's spot on - it's "slashing and smashing" alright. My only concern: the runtime felt a bit stretched in the second half. But overall, worth every rupee! 👏
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Michael C
I'm an American living in Mumbai for work. This film intrigued me because I've been learning about Maratha history. The visuals are stunning, and Riteish's transformation is impressive. But I wish they'd included more context for non-Indian audiences - the political backdrop was glossed over. Still, a solid historical drama. And yes, Salman Khan's cameo got the loudest applause in my theatre! 😂
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Priyanka N
Finally, a film that doesn't shy away from showing our real heroes. The depiction of Afzal Khan's encounter was intense but not gratuitous. Riteish and Abhishek's chemistry as warrior and diplomat is great. My only gripe: the music could have been more rooted. Too many Western instruments in a film about Shivaji Maharaj. But Genelia and Riteish have truly outdone themselves. Five stars from me! ⭐⭐
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