Actor-filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh is all set to dominate the box office this Maharashtra Day with the release of his historical epic 'Raja Shivaji'. The film, which has already seen strong advance bookings, features an ensemble cast with Riteish in the titular role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Supporting roles are played by Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Bhagyashree, Mahesh Manjerakar, and Boman Irani. Salman Khan appears in a special role, as confirmed by the actor earlier this year.
Riteish on Collaborating with Salman
Ahead of the film's release, Deshmukh opened up about how Salman came on board. Recalling their long-standing camaraderie, Deshmukh noted that the superstar insisted on being part of the project even before a role was finalised. In an interview translated from Marathi, shared online by a fan handle, Deshmukh said: 'When I did 'Lai Bhari', Salman Khan was in it. At the time, he requested, 'I want to do a scene.' When I was working on 'Ved', I called him and said, 'Brother, I want to meet you'. He said, 'Done!' I asked, 'When?' He replied, 'For which role you want to meet, it's done?' He just asked me, 'How many days is the shoot?' I said, 'Two days' and he simply said, 'Done.''
Riteish Reveals How Salman Landed Role in 'Raja Shivaji'
However, the casting process for 'Raja Shivaji' was slightly different. 'I didn't go to him in this film,' Riteish revealed. 'We were together on New Year's. He asked me when I was starting to shoot the movie. I said, 'It's starting this month.' He said, 'Which role am I playing?' On telling Khan that he didn't have a role for him, the superstar insisted on being part of the project. 'He said, 'No, no, no... you can't make the film without me, I have to be in it.' That sense of warmth and belonging, that emotion… I was thinking that I hadn't really thought it through yet. He said, 'I should have a role in the film.' Then there was a role… and Salman Khan was also a part of this film.'
About 'Raja Shivaji'
'Raja Shivaji', a historical epic based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, arrives in theatres on May 1. The film is off to a flying start at the box office, with advance collections estimated at Rs 3 crore from advance bookings alone. It faces a three-way clash with the Bollywood love story 'Ek Din' starring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi, and the Hollywood comedy 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'. This Friday sees the film arrive amid an already crowded box office, with Ranveer Singh's 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', Akshay Kumar's 'Bhooth Bangla', and the Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' currently running in theatres.
