Riteish Deshmukh has stated that Hindi cinema cannot be confined to a single format, following the success of 'Dhurandhar' and 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge'. The actor-filmmaker, currently preparing for the release of his historical drama 'Raja Shivaji', emphasized that filmmakers must remain aware of evolving audience preferences but should not assume only one storytelling style will succeed.
Riteish Deshmukh on Changing Hindi Cinema
According to Bollywood Hungama, Riteish discussed the shift in cinema while talking about 'Raja Shivaji'. Reacting to the impact of Aditya Dhar's 'Dhurandhar' films, he said, "I think one has to be really cognisant of the changes happening around you. You cannot blind yourself to the changes. And when something really works, something as fantastic as Dhurandhar or Dhurandhar The Revenge and there is a different narrative, different stories, telling style, different approach and a new hero… new kind of a hero. So, it's always welcome. You feel thrilled about it."
He added that the success of one format should not lead the industry to overlook other stories. "But I just feel that having said that our audience is so vast and if there is a good story they will come out and watch it and celebrate that too," Riteish said.
'Raja Shivaji' Release and Cast Details
Riteish further explained, "If there is a particular film, I think it will be really limited on our part to think that only this kind of stories or this kind of stuff is going to work. Because when Dhurandhar came in, it was one of its kind, when Saiyaara came in, it was one of its kind. So, if you look at films that have really worked… when Chhaava came in, no one thought that it would do this kind of business for that genre."
He noted that these films demonstrate audiences' acceptance of diverse cinema. "So, eventually all these films have set benchmarks for themselves and also it goes to prove that, look at the larger picture," he said.
'Raja Shivaji' features Riteish as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He has also directed and co-written the film, which releases on May 1, 2026. The cast includes Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, and Salman Khan in a special appearance.
