The Bombay High Court dismissed a public interest litigation seeking to halt the release of Ritesh Deshmukh's film Raja Shivaji. The court found it did not serve public interest. The film will release in Hindi and Marathi on May 1.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday, April 30, 2026, dismissed a public interest litigation against Ritesh Deshmukh's upcoming film Raja Shivaji. A bench of Chief Justice Shri Chandrashkhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad rejected the arguments of petitioner NGO Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Foundation.
The NGO claimed the title Raja Shivaji is disrespectful to the 17th-century Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for omitting the word Chhatrapati. The court stated the PIL does not serve public interest and was filed just two days before the film's release, indicating a specific motive.
The decision grants the film clearance for release on May 1, 2026, in Hindi and Marathi. Ritesh Deshmukh directed and produced the film, portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Genelia D'Souza, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Sanjay Dutt play key roles, with Salman Khan in a cameo.
The project is a dream venture for Ritesh, and the trailer has received strong audience response.
