Riteish Deshmukh is over the moon as his directorial debut 'Raja Shivaji', which hit theaters on May 1, continues to receive rave reviews. The film has struck a chord with audiences, drawing families spanning multiple generations, including grandparents and toddlers, to witness the epic story honoring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Riteish Deshmukh on Family Viewings
Speaking to ANI, Riteish shared his joy at seeing families come together. "When I see people taking their families, making groups, taking their grandparents, there are a lot of people who have never seen a film, they are taking their grandchildren. New parents, a one-year-old child, and a two-year-old child feel that the first film of their life should be 'Raja Shivaji', especially the film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. They are making their own videos by going inside. After going inside, everyone feels something. After coming out, they make a video and post it, telling you to watch this film," he said.
He emphasized that the way people share the film on their own is a big reward for the makers. Films help bring history to life, especially for children who do not learn full details from school books. "I think this is the moment when the audience accepts a film. That feeling is very good for the makers because when the audience accepts a film, they themselves start promoting it. Nothing better than that for filmmakers like us. I think children should watch a film because we are limited to a few pages of history. I believe that when a story is presented to you on a large screen, they will know that there are a lot of things that are not shown in the history books. To know all this, it is important to watch this film," added Riteish.
'Raja Shivaji' Film Breaks Records
'Raja Shivaji', Riteish Deshmukh's grand historical saga, has smashed Marathi cinema records with a whopping Rs 23.90 crore opening weekend haul. Released on May 1, it boasts the biggest ever first-day collection for the industry. The Marathi cut is ruling the charts right now, but the Hindi version is expected to surge soon on glowing audience buzz.
Stellar Ensemble Cast
The film features a stellar ensemble cast, with Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Bhagyashree, and Genelia Deshmukh in pivotal roles. It also stars Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, and Amole Gupte.
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