The upcoming historical drama 'Raja Shivaji', set for release on May 1, will hit theatres in both Marathi and Hindi versions. However, in an unusual twist, the two versions will have different runtimes, a rarity in Indian cinema. The Hindi version, certified U/A 16+ by the Central Board of Film Certification on April 28, runs for 187 minutes and 5 seconds (3 hours, 7 minutes). No cuts were demanded, but the board advised that chapter titles, dates, locations, and key events be presented in Hindi. The Marathi version, certified on April 24, has a runtime of 195 minutes and 5 seconds (3 hours, 15 minutes), making it 8 minutes longer.
Strong Advance Bookings
According to Bollywood Hungama, 'Raja Shivaji' sold over 40,000 tickets as of 8:00 am on April 29. By 4:30 pm on April 28, PVR Inox sold 9,800 tickets for the Marathi version, while Cinepolis sold 3,000, MovieMax 2,400, and Miraj Cinemas over 4,100. Advance booking trends show strong momentum across Maharashtra, with Pune emerging as the top market, even challenging Mumbai. Several Pune theatres have started shows as early as 7:00 am to meet demand. Major chains like City Pride and E-Square are expected to lead sales, with combined numbers likely crossing 20,000 by April 30. Other cities such as Nashik, Latur, Solapur, Kolhapur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar are also reporting encouraging bookings.
Strategic Creative Decision
Reports explain the runtime variation as a strategic move. Usually, both versions of a film have the same duration. However, Riteish Deshmukh kept the Hindi narrative crisp for a broader audience, while the Marathi version, catering to local audiences, is longer. This difference is also reflected in the trailers: the Marathi trailer runs for 3 minutes and 5 seconds, while the Hindi trailer is 2 minutes and 59 seconds.
Star-Studded Cast
'Raja Shivaji' features Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, alongside an ensemble cast including Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, Bhagyashree, Sachin Khedekar, Amole Gupte, and Jitendra Joshi. Produced by Mumbai Film Company (Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh) and Jyoti Deshpande's Jio Studios, the film is poised to be a noteworthy cinematic event with its scale, cast, and unique release strategy.
