Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji crosses 70 crore in India

The historical epic "Raja Shivaji," chronicling the life of the 17th-century Maratha Empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has crossed a significant box office milestone while revealing the deeply personal connection audiences hold for the legendary figure. The film, which stars Riteish Deshmukh in the titular role and marks his directorial venture, has earned over 70 crore rupees in India since its release on May 1.

According to industry reports, the film's total net collection in India stands at approximately 73 crore rupees, with gross earnings nearing 87 crore. After a strong opening weekend, collections dipped on weekdays but saw a resurgence during the second weekend. The film recorded its lowest single-day collection of 2.40 crore rupees on its 11th day, a Monday, though it earned a slightly improved 2.50 crore rupees on the following day. The Marathi version of the film has significantly outperformed its Hindi counterpart in terms of box office revenue.

In discussing the project, Deshmukh emphasized that the film was driven by a desire for honest storytelling rather than commercial spectacle. He noted that the audience response highlighted how personal and varied...