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Riteish Deshmukh’s historical magnum opus Raja Shivaji is on the verge of scripting history, poised to finally eclipse the decade-long box office record held by Nagraj Manjule’s cult classic Sairat. As the epic biographical drama continues its unstoppable, record-breaking run across theatres, industry veterans and trade experts have come forward to shower praises on Deshmukh’s cinematic vision. The most prominent film critics lauded the historical epic as a ‘magnificent tribute’ to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, heavily praising Deshmukh’s immersive direction and career-defining lead performance.
The film’s gripping narrative is further elevated by powerful adversarial performances from Sanjay Dutt and Abhishek Bachchan, creating an intense, high-stakes theatrical experience. On the technical front, Adarsh noted that the grand scale, Santosh Sivan’s breathtaking cinematography, and Ajay-Atul’s thunderous background score seamlessly blend “spectacle with soul,” delivering a masterclass in regional filmmaking.
The unprecedented audience footfall has sent shockwaves through the industry. Applauding the historic milestone, trade experts congratulated the actor-director, stating, “Whenever Riteish Deshmukh does a Marathi movie, he completely shakes up the box office, setting new benchmarks for regional cinema.” With strong word-of-mouth and housefull boards persisting across Maharashtra and beyond, Raja Shivaji has not only revived the historical drama genre but has firmly established itself as a monumental cultural and commercial phenomenon, cementing Deshmukh’s legacy as a powerhouse filmmaker capable of delivering both critical acclaim and massive box office gold.
