Abhishek Bachchan has come to the defense of the Marathi film 'Raja Shivaji' following criticism of its visual effects (VFX). In the film, he portrays Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, the elder brother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Bachchan argued that it is unfair to compare Indian films with Hollywood productions given the vast differences in budgets. He emphasized that VFX is a craft that improves with time and investment, and working under tight deadlines adds to the challenge.
Abhishek Bachchan on Raja Shivaji's VFX Backlash
In an interview with News18, Bachchan addressed the VFX criticism directly. He said, 'Maybe the common man doesn't know, but VFX is a very fine art, but it's a rain card. The more time you give it, the better it's going to look. The more money you can pile into your VFX, the better the quality. People have to understand that at the end of the day, Riteish and Genelia (Deshmukh) have made a Marathi film within a very tight budget.' He pointed out that Hollywood studios likely spend upwards of Rs 5000 crore on VFX alone, beyond a film's overall budget, and made it clear that Indian cinema cannot compete at that level because 'that's not our market.'
Indian Films vs Hollywood: Budget Disparity
Bachchan did not shy away from highlighting the budget gap, noting that Indian films operate on a fraction—perhaps barely one percent—of what Hollywood invests in VFX alone. He stressed that quality is inevitably tied to the time and money allocated to the process. Referring to Riteish Deshmukh's dual role as producer and director, Bachchan said there comes a point where one must draw the line and decide how long to continue. Given a decade, he argued, the output would be remarkable, but such patience and time are not realistic for filmmakers in India. 'Those ten years will also cost a lot of money. But can a film afford it? You don't want to burden a film in that way. Had Riteish had the liberty to go and spend a thousand crore on VFX, it would be a long road. You've to understand that checks and balances always happen,' added Bachchan.
The Emotional Core of 'Raja Shivaji'
Concluding his defense, Bachchan made it clear that despite the VFX noise, his admiration for Riteish's vision remains unwavering. He reminded everyone that at its core, 'Raja Shivaji' was always meant to be an emotional story, and that is exactly what it delivers. The VFX backlash, he said, will fade with time, but what truly matters is whether the film achieved its goals within its means and whether the story was told effectively. On both counts, he had no doubts, saying the answer is a resounding 'yes.'
'Raja Shivaji': Cast and Plot
Produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, 'Raja Shivaji' features a stellar cast including Riteish Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Amol Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh. Salman Khan also makes a much-talked-about cameo appearance. The film is a historical drama that focuses on the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, blending action and emotion.
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