Raja Shivaji, the historical action drama starring and directed by Riteish Deshmukh, has made a historic debut at the domestic box office. Released on Maharashtra Day, the film collected a staggering Rs 11 crore on its opening day, setting a new benchmark for Marathi cinema.
Record-Breaking Opening
According to a report on Sacnilk, the Marathi version of the film earned an impressive Rs 8 crore net on Friday from just 1,941 shows, registering a strong average occupancy of 68%. This places Raja Shivaji at the top of the list for the highest debut collections for a Marathi film, comfortably surpassing the long-standing Day 1 records of Sairat and Timepass 2, both of which had earned an estimated Rs 3.60 crore net on their opening days.
Advance Booking Success
The film's record-breaking start was preceded by extraordinary advance booking. Ahead of its release, Raja Shivaji closed advance sales at Rs 5.14 crore gross, of which an estimated Rs 4.25 crore gross (Rs 3.60 crore net) was collected from the original Marathi version alone. This strong pre-release momentum set the stage for a phenomenal opening day.
Hindi Version Contribution
While the Marathi version earned an estimated Rs 8 crore, the addition of Rs 3.35 crore from the film's Hindi screenings helped push its total haul past the Rs 10 crore mark, resulting in a total collection of Rs 11.35 crore. As per early box office trends, it was reported that the film would depend on the Hindi format to help push it past the Rs 10 crore milestone.
Strong Occupancy Across Maharashtra
The film's exceptional start is largely driven by its Marathi version, which has recorded strong occupancy across multiplexes and single screens alike in Maharashtra. The film's widespread appeal and historical subject matter have resonated with audiences, contributing to its massive opening.
Ensemble Cast
Raja Shivaji boasts an ensemble cast featuring Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Amol Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh. The film also features Salman Khan in a cameo role, adding to its star power.
