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Riteish Deshmukh recently opened up about casting his sons, Riaan and Rahyl, who played the younger version of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in , emphasising the importance of exposing children to inspiring stories rather than letting them get lost in mindless content. Speaking to Zoom, Riteish highlighted how kids today often spend hours on “brain-rot” entertainment, and he believes cinema can play a crucial role in teaching them about our heroes, legends, and history. By involving his children in a film that celebrates courage and heritage, Riteish wants to combine storytelling with parenting, and give them firsthand experience of the power of meaningful narrative.

Ritiesh Deshmukh on casting his sons in Raja Shivaji

Speaking to Zoom, when  was asked about how he explained the importance of Raja Shivaji before casting them. Before answering, he mentioned that since they are kids, and they have done a small part in the film, the more he talks about it, it will get into discussions so he tries to avoid talking about it.

Riteish said, "You know heroic stories, inspiring stories, need to be told. I see kids busy with some brain rot, or some Pokémon or something. And you know, these are mind-engaging, nonsense stuff. But living legends, people, people who are living right now, inspiring stories that exist around legends, icons that have strived for the country that we are, history, a legacy that needs to be told."

 

Riteish further said that sometimes, cinema is probably the best way to experience a certain legacy because it engages people in a holistic way, allowing them to see, hear, and feel things, and ultimately get inspired. He noted that films can highlight a variety of issues and that this visual medium is so powerful that it should be used responsibly. He emphasizes that whenever a story is created based on a historical or real event, it must be done with the utmost responsibility, because what is being shown and how it is being shown may be considered history by some, especially if there is bias involved.

 

Raja Shivaji is a Marathi-Hindi historical drama that sees Riteish Deshmukh not only directing but also portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film highlights Shivaji’s journey from a young, ambitious leader to the founder of the Maratha empire (Swarajya). It highlights his early military campaigns, strategic battles against the Adil Shahi dynasty and the Mughals, and the legendary confrontation with Afzal Khan (Sanjay Dutt), bringing to life the valor, vision, and legacy of one of India’s most iconic rulers. Genelia played the role of Saibai Bhosale, Shivaji's wife, in the film.