Riteish Deshmukh recently unveiled the official motion poster of his grand historical venture, Raja Shivaji.
The actor is set to both direct and star in the film, which is scheduled for an international release on Maharashtra Day, May 1, 2026.
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The film also features Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh.
While the motion poster appears powerful, it has sparked conversations online. Some fans have raised concerns about how recent films seem to be exploiting religious sentiments just to drive box office numbers.
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They pointed out how Chhaava, despite not being a great film and having its fair share of flaws, managed to collect over ₹500 crores and became the highest-grossing film so far this year, largely due to the religious undertones it carried.
Similarly, they mentioned Kesari Veer starring Sooraj Pancholi, which attempted the same strategy but failed to perform well.
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Films that lean into religious sentiment often do better at the box office, regardless of their storytelling or cinematic quality, as audiences feel more inclined to watch them on the big screen.
Social media users added that many filmmakers seem to be repeating this formula—creating religious-themed films or ones that tap into cultural pride just to ensure commercial success. And frankly, audiences are getting bored.
Even those with strong religious beliefs expressed disappointment, saying the industry is no longer offering anything fresh, only religious messaging or films lacking substance.
According to them, Raja Shivaji might be another attempt to cash in on religious fervour, rather than focusing on storytelling or cinematic depth.
Chhaava, after its release, triggered intense audience reactions by stirring emotions, and fans are speculating that Raja Shivaji could lead to similar polarising responses.
Will that be the case? Only time will tell.
