EXCLUSIVE: Vidya Balan joins Riteish Deshmukh in Raja Shivaji; Ensemble gets even bigger

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In the early part of the year, Riteish Deshmukh joined forces with Jio Studios to realize his ambitious project, Raja Shivaji, on the big screen. The actor not only assumed the lead role but also stepped behind the camera as director. He managed to secure a remarkable cast for the nationwide film, drawing from Marathi cinema heavyweights like Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh, among others.

It has been exclusively confirmed that the cast of Raja Shivaji has grown larger, as Riteish Deshmukh and his team have brought on board Vidya Balan for a significant part in the movie. “Vidya is thrilled to be joining a film that recounts one of the bravest episodes in Indian history,” shared a source privy to the project. “She jumped at the opportunity to work on Raja Shivaji, and Riteish himself can’t hide his enthusiasm about directing a performer like Vidya for his directorial debut.

According to the source, Vidya has completed her screen test for the movie and will be on set within two weeks. Since this part is crucial, Riteish felt it necessary to cast a talented actor. Vidya was an obvious choice in his mind. The production of Raja Shivaji is progressing steadily, with the team dedicated to releasing it on May 1, 2026.

Remarkably, Raja Shivaji is part of only a small number of productions from Marathi Cinema that aspires to resonate with a national audience. As stated by our source, “The story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj originates in the core of Maharashtra. For the team, it’s not merely a film; it’s an emotion they are deeply invested in. They strive to deliver an authentic and heartfelt portrayal of Raja Shivaji.

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2025-06-26 08:07