The historical drama *Raja Shivaji*, directed by Riteish Deshmukh, debuted in theaters on May 1, 2026, and achieved remarkable box office success, earning ₹11.35 crore (approximately $1.37 million USD) on its first day. The film was released in both Hindi and Marathi, with the Marathi version leading in performance, generating ₹8 crore compared to ₹3.35 crore from the Hindi version. Ram Gopal Varma, a notable filmmaker, took to social media to congratulate Deshmukh and his wife, Genelia Deshmukh, on the film's strong performance, stating that Riteish's portrayal was reminiscent of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film features a notable cast, including Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan, and marks the acting debut of Riteish's son, Rahyl. Deshmukh expressed the emotional journey behind the film's production, which he envisioned a decade ago but faced numerous delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The film had around 6000 shows on its release day, with the Marathi version achieving an occupancy rate of 68%, while the Hindi version saw a lower occupancy of 16%.