Mumbai, April 2 (IANS) Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who will be seen in the upcoming historical epic ‘Raja Shivaji’, is walking down the memory lane that leads to the start of his friendship with actor-director Riteish Deshmukh.

The film marks a new chapter in Abhishek’s friendship with Riteish Deshmukh, making it the former’s first Marathi film. The recently released first look teaser of ‘Raja Shivaji’ features Abhishek Bachchan in the role of Sambhaji Shahaji Raje Bhosle. In the video asset, Abhishek can be seen donning a warrior’s ensemble, roaring across the battlefield and upholding his brotherly bond with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, promising a spectacle that goes beyond the battles.

For Abhishek Bachchan, ‘Raja Shivaji’ is more than a grand cinematic offering as it marks his first-ever Marathi film, a bold leap in his diverse filmography.

Talking about the film, he said, “It’s my first ever Marathi film. Riteish, who I considered to be my brother, has been dreaming about this from the first time that I ever met him about 25 years ago in Latur. I was shooting there for a film of mine called Zameen. And Riteish was just coming into the film industry, and he came to hang out with Ajay Devgn and me, who were shooting, and that’s where our friendship began. And then we’ve gone on to collaborate on several films”.

The actor recalled a moment when he visited Riteish Deshmukh’s residence, where the actor revealed his “dream” to go beyond acting, to direct and make a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“So this is a dream he’s harboured and worked on for several years. Riteish has arguably made the most ambitious Marathi film made till date. I have no doubt about the kind of director that he is, which he has already proven in his last film. He’s going to do something that is going to become a cornerstone for Marathi cinema. And I’m so, so happy for him, so happy to be a part of it, be part of telling the story. And I hope everybody likes the film because I really think it’s going to be a seminal moment for Marathi cinema”, he added.

Presented by Jio Studios and produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh under the banner of Mumbai Film Company, ‘Raja Shivaji’ is set to release in cinemas on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu.

–IANS

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