As 'Raja Shivaji' continues its strong run at the box office, director and lead actor Riteish Deshmukh has addressed the widespread chatter around the film's rumoured Rs 100-crore budget. He urged audiences and the industry to shift focus back to the cinematic experience.
Riteish Deshmukh addresses budget rumours around 'Raja Shivaji'
Speaking with the Hindustan Times, Riteish Deshmukh was direct about the budget speculation surrounding the film. He said, "About the figures floating around about Raja Shivaji's budget, only the producers know the real budget. The last thing we need to do as filmmakers is to discuss the budget of a film because it doesn't affect anything."
Riteish went further, questioning why budget has become such a dominant conversation in today's film culture. He added, "What does budget have to do with anything? If someone asks me the budget, I ask them, 'How much are you paying for a ticket to watch it?' They say, 'Rs 100' or 'Rs 250-300'; I reply that's the budget. One should stop talking about it. Let it be magical; you just go and experience the film."
Riteish Deshmukh says numbers should not be the focus
Drawing from his own childhood, Riteish Deshmukh recalled what it truly meant to watch a film on the big screen. He recalled, "When I would go to watch Amitabh Bachchan ji's films like 'Sholay' in my childhood, I would never think 'What is its budget?' I just wanted to have the big-screen entertainment." The actor stressed that wonder, not numbers, should define the moviegoing experience.
Riteish Deshmukh feels Bollywood has played a big role in normalising obsession with numbers
Riteish also turned the lens on the industry itself, acknowledging that Bollywood has played a role in normalising this obsession. "We would never know how much films collected. Unfortunately, that's the game today. People wonder how much actors charge for films… it's our mistake; we feed these numbers. Those who feel this is right, it's okay. We have made seven films so far in Marathi; we have never revealed the budget of our films," he stated.
More about 'Raja Shivaji'
'Raja Shivaji', made simultaneously in Marathi and Hindi, is the most expensive Marathi film ever produced, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film stars Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Sanjay Dutt, and several others in key roles. The film was released in theatres on May 1, 2026.
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