Riteish Deshmukh Denies 'Raja Shivaji' Had Rs 100 Crore Budget

Riteish Deshmukh has rejected speculation that the Marathi-Hindi period film 'Raja Shivaji' was produced on a Rs 100 crore budget, calling the figure unverified and irrelevant. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Deshmukh said only the producers have accurate knowledge of the budget and urged filmmakers not to disclose or debate financial details publicly.

He argued that audience focus should remain on the cinematic experience, not production costs, adding: 'If someone asks me the budget, I ask them how much they are paying for a ticket—Rs 100 or Rs 250-300. That's the budget.' He recalled watching 'Sholay' as a child without concern for its cost, criticizing the current industry culture of publicizing budgets and actor fees.

'Raja Shivaji,' released on May 1, 2026, chronicles the early life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosale and his struggle to establish Hindavi Swarajya. The film is produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company and features a large ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Boman Irani, and Genelia Deshmukh, with Salman Khan in a cameo appearance.

Deshmukh noted that his production house has made seven Marathi films without ever revealing their budgets, maintaining that transparency on costs adds no value to the viewer's experience. He emphasized that the magic of cinema should remain undisturbed by commercial disclosures.

The film continues to draw strong footfalls in Marathi-speaking regions and maintains moderate traction in Hindi screenings; no official box office figures have been released by the producers.