Top News

Mumbai: ‘Raja Shivaji’ opened to a strong response in theatres on May 1, and Riteish Deshmukh has expressed his gratitude to audiences for the love the film has received. At the same time, he made a special request to fans. Taking to Instagram, the actor-director shared a video in which he urged viewers not to post clips from the film or reveal spoilers online. In the video, Riteish is seen speaking directly to his fans in Marathi, saying, “Namaskar! We have released the film Raja Shivaji, based on the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. You have watched this film with your own eyes and given such a great response to it. The entire team of Raja Shivaji and I are deeply indebted to you for that.” He continued, “I have only one request. I understand your feelings. Many of you are making videos inside theatres and posting them online. I kindly request you not to post videos.” He also shared a caption in Marathi, which translates to, “A humble request: Please do not upload videos on social media while watching the movie.”   ‘Raja Shivaji’ boasts an ensemble cast featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi and Amole Gupte in pivotal roles. A major talking point among viewers has been a special cameo by Salman Khan, which has been drawing strong reactions in theatres. The film also marks the acting debut of Riteish and Genelia’s son, Rahyl. A part of HT review of the film read, “On the acting front, Riteish Deshmukh gives the role his all and, for the most part, manages to convince. The impact, however, might have been stronger had the runtime been trimmed. Genelia Deshmukh, his real-life partner, is wonderful in her part as Saibai. Vidya Balan, Abhishek Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt deliver solid performances, each adding value to the film. Salman Khan should be dubbed Cameo Khan from this point on. Overall, Raja Shivaji is a film that commands respect more than it commands engagement. The intent is noble, the scale undeniable. But for all it’s visual grandeur, it doesn’t translate into a consistent, gripping cinematic experience. It soars in parts, especially towards the end. But as a whole, it remains a spectacle that you admire more than you feel.”