Raja Shivaji, featuring Riteish Deshmukh in the lead role, is set to release in theaters next Friday, May 1, coinciding with the Maharashtra Din/Labor Day holiday. This strategic timing is expected to provide the film with an additional advantage at the box office. Although the film was announced some time ago, it has undergone several changes, with Riteish taking on the role of director. Following the success of his directorial debut, Ved, expectations are high for this upcoming project, which is anticipated to achieve a decent to good start in the Indian market.
The recently released trailer for Raja Shivaji has garnered mixed reviews from audiences. While the music composed by Ajay-Atul has received unanimous praise, other elements of the film have elicited varied responses. Despite the mixed feedback, the film is likely to attract viewers due to its intriguing concept, star-studded cast, and the holiday release. Riteish’s popularity among the Marathi audience is expected to play a significant role in drawing crowds to theaters.
Raja Shivaji is a bilingual film, shot in both Marathi and Hindi. The Marathi version is projected to achieve one of the biggest openings in its history, while the Hindi version is expected to perform moderately. The inclusion of notable actors such as Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan, who appears in a cameo, may help boost ticket sales, although there appears to be limited excitement among Hindi-speaking audiences.
To secure a spot among the top five Hindi openings of 2025, Raja Shivaji must surpass the film Ikkis, which opened with a net collection of 7.28 crore and currently holds the fifth position. While the film benefits from its holiday release, surpassing Ikkis in Hindi box office numbers seems unlikely. Thus, entering the top five Hindi openers of the year may be a challenging feat.
As the release date approaches, anticipation builds, and the film’s performance will become clearer once pre-sales begin. The industry will be watching closely to see if Raja Shivaji can defy expectations and achieve significant box office success.
