Raja Shivaji: Report Indicates Distinct Runtimes For Hindi And Marathi Versions Of Riteish Deshmukh's Film

Raja Shivaji Set To Release On May 1

Riteish Deshmukh‘s highly anticipated project Raja Shivaji is just days away from its premiere. This grand historical narrative chronicles the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is being touted as the most costly Marathi film ever produced. However, an intriguing detail has emerged ahead of its debut. The Hindi and Marathi versions of the film will reportedly differ in runtime. Here’s what you need to know about it.

Raja Shivaji Hindi Version To Be Shorter

Raja Shivaji is scheduled to premiere on May 1 in both Marathi and Hindi versions. Typically, films released in multiple languages share the same runtime, with only the language differing. However, Raja Shivaji will be an exception.

The Marathi version received its censor certificate on April 24. According to Bollywood Hungama, its runtime is 195.05 minutes, which translates to 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 5 seconds. The Hindi version is shorter by precisely 8 minutes, meaning Hindi viewers will experience a slightly more concise version of the film.

The Hindi version of Raja Shivaji was certified by the CBFC on April 28 with a U/A 16+ rating. Both versions are now approved and set for their significant release on Maharashtra Day.

As per the report, Riteish Deshmukh is experimenting with a more succinct edit for the Hindi audience. Given that the Marathi audience is likely to be more engaged with the film, the actor-director opted for a longer runtime for the local version.

Interestingly, this variation was also observed in the trailers. The Marathi trailer runs for 3 minutes and 5 seconds, while the Hindi promo is slightly shorter at 2 minutes and 59 seconds.

Raja Shivaji Release Date And Cast

In Raja Shivaji, Riteish Deshmukh portrays Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while his 10-year-old son Rahyl Deshmukh plays the younger version of Shivaji. This adds a personal touch for the Deshmukh family.

The film boasts a large ensemble cast. Sanjay Dutt plays Afzal Khan, Abhishek Bachchan portrays Sambhaji, Fardeen Khan takes on the role of Aurangzeb, and Genelia Deshmukh plays Saibai. Bhagyashree appears as Jijabai, while Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Jitendra Joshi, and Amole Gupte are also featured in the film. Salman Khan makes a cameo appearance.

Raja Shivaji is produced on an estimated budget of Rs 100 crore, making it the most expensive Marathi film ever created. With such a grand scale and a star-studded cast, the film is anticipated to be one of the major releases of 2026.

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