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Riteish says cast took no fee for historical epic Raja Shivaji

Actor-director Riteish Deshmukh has revealed that none of the actors charged a fee for his historical film Raja Shivaji, which released on May 1 and has made a strong start at the box office, earning 33 crore in its first three days.

Calling it a tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Deshmukh said the entire team worked “free for Maharaj”, stressing their commitment to presenting the story without compromising on history. 

He added that the film was in development for over three years and aims to introduce younger audiences to the legacy of the Maratha king.

The film features a star-studded cast, including Salman Khan in a guest appearance as Jiva Mahale, Abhishek Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahji Bhosale, and Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan. Other actors include Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh.

Presented by Jio Studios, the film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh under Mumbai Film Company. Released in Hindi and Marathi, the film continues to draw audiences in cinemas across the country.