Afzal Khan

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has redefined the landscape of Marathi cinema. Released on Maharashtra Day, May 1, 2026, this Rs. 100 crore historical epic, the most expensive Marathi film ever made, delivered a historic Week 1 of Rs. 52.65 crore. As the second weekend begins, the film is aggressively chasing the Rs. 75 crore India net milestone. With a stellar cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh, and the viral cameo of Salman Khan as Jiva Mahala, the film continues to shatter records and dominate the box office.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has delivered the greatest opening week in Marathi cinema history with Rs. 52.65 crore India net in Week 1 and is chasing the Rs. 75 crore India net target as its second weekend begins. Released on Maharashtra Day (May 1, 2026), the Rs. 100 crore historical epic — the most expensive Marathi film ever made features Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh and the debut of Rahyl Deshmukh, with Salman Khan's still-viral surprise cameo as Jiva Mahala continuing to drive footfalls.

Riteish Deshmukh's historical epic, Raja Shivaji, has achieved a strong opening, earning Rs 33 crore in its first three days and securing the most screens in Maharashtra. Remarkably, many prominent actors, including Salman Khan and Abhishek Bachchan, contributed to the film without charging a fee, driven by their respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's legacy.

Raja Shivaji box office collection Day 12 live tracking: Riteish Deshmukh’s historical drama enters its second Tuesday with a total India net of Rs. 70.86 crore. After a record-breaking Week 1 of Rs. 52.65 crore and a stellar second weekend, the film is now less than Rs. 3.62 crore away from the historic Rs. 75 crore net mark. With Salman Khan’s viral cameo and strong family footfalls, the film has already crossed Rs. 84 crore India gross, cementing its status as a blockbuster.

Riteish Deshmukh's historical epic 'Raja Shivaji' has finally arrived after a ten-year journey. The film chronicles the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Deshmukh stars in the lead role and also co-wrote and directed the ambitious project. The extended wait allowed for a bigger and better production, featuring a star-studded cast. The film has been well-received by audiences in Maharashtra.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is just Rs. 6.43 crore away from the historic Rs. 75 crore India net milestone. After delivering the greatest opening week in Marathi cinema history (Rs. 52.65 crore), the Rs. 100 crore historical epic powered through its second weekend with a 75% Saturday jump (Rs. 5.60 crore) and a 21.4% Sunday growth (Rs. 6.80 crore). Released on Maharashtra Day (May 1, 2026), the U/A 16+ certified film features Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh and the debut of Rahyl Deshmukh, with Salman Khan's viral surprise cameo as Jiva Mahala, Ajay-Atul's score and Santosh Sivan's cinematography.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is on the verge of crossing Rs. 50 crore India net in its first weekm a historic first for Marathi cinema. Released on Maharashtra Day (May 1, 2026), the Rs. 100 crore production set the highest-ever Marathi first Monday (Rs. 5.60 crore) and delivered an extraordinary weekday hold throughout its opening week. The film features Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh and the debut of Rahyl Deshmukh, with Salman Khan's viral surprise cameo as Jiva Mahala, Ajay-Atul's music and Santosh Sivan's cinematography.

Riteish Deshmukh's ambitious historical drama, 'Raja Shivaji', is captivating audiences in theatres. The film, based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's life, achieved a historic opening for its Marathi version. With a star-studded cast and a special appearance by Salman Khan, the movie has garnered significant box office collections, reaching Rs 23.65 crore net in its initial days despite facing competition. Read on to know more in detail.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is inches away from the Rs. 50 crore India net milestone on Day 6 with a cumulative net of Rs. 44.66 crore and gross of Rs. 52.99 crore. Released on Maharashtra Day, May 1, 2026, the Rs. 100 crore historical epic set the highest-ever first Monday for a Marathi production with Rs. 5.60 crore on Day 4 and has already recovered 58% of its budget. Featuring Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh, the debut of Rahyl Deshmukh and Salman Khan's viral surprise cameo as Jiva Mahala, with Ajay-Atul's music and Santosh Sivan's cinematography, Raja Shivaji is the most significant milestone in Marathi cinema history.

Former Mumbai Police officer MN Singh has revisited one of the most controversial chapters of the 1993 Mumbai blasts investigation — the arrest of Sanjay Dutt — recalling the pressure, politics and legal complexities surrounding the case. Speaking to Hussain Zaidi on his YouTube channel, Singh said the case stood out because “before this, no film star had been arrested. It was the first time,” adding that the situation came with “so much pressure,” including from the actor’s MP father Sunil Dutt.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is tracking toward a Rs. 50 crore first-week India net after crossing Rs. 39.78 crore on Day 5. The Rs. 100 crore historical epic set the highest-ever first Monday for a Marathi production with Rs. 5.60 crore on Day 4, surpassing the previous record held by Riteish's own 'Ved'. Having already recovered 58% of its budget and surpassed 'Lai Bhaari's lifetime in just three days, the film is driven by Salman Khan's viral surprise cameo as Jiva Mahala and his trending dialogue "Shivaji nahi; Shivaji Raje mhanaycha." The film features Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh and the debut of Rahyl Deshmukh, with music by Ajay-Atul and cinematography by Santosh Sivan.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has crossed Rs. 34 crore India net on Day 4 after a strong opening weekend of Rs. 33.90 crore driven by a Rs. 11.35 crore Maharashtra Day opening and Salman Khan's surprise cameo as Jiva Mahala, the film's best-kept secret. Made on a budget of Rs. 100 crore, being the most expensive Marathi film ever made, the U/A 16+ certified historical epic features Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan, Vidya Balan as Badi Begum, Abhishek Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahaji Maharaj, Bhagyashree as Jijabai, Fardeen Khan as Shah Jahan, Amole Gupte as Mohammed Adil Shah and Genelia Deshmukh as Saibai, with Rahyl Deshmukh making his debut as young Shivaji.

Sanjay Dutt embodies Afzal Khan in Riteish Deshmukh's 'Raja Shivaji', releasing May 1, 2026. Dutt's fierce first look as the antagonist has gone viral, highlighting his transformation. He shared a deep personal connection with Deshmukh, rooted in their fathers' friendship, making the collaboration feel natural. The film aims to elevate Marathi cinema.

'Raja Shivaji', directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has crossed Rs. 12.21 crore India net on Day 2 of its theatrical run, driven by extraordinary audience response in the Marathi-speaking belt and the viral impact of Salman Khan's surprise cameo as loyal warrior Jiva Mahala. Made under a budget of approximately Rs. 100 crore, the film features Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan, Vidya Balan as Badi Begum, Abhishek Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahaji Maharaj, Bhagyashree as Jijabai, Fardeen Khan as Shah Jahan, Amole Gupte as Mohammed Adil Shah and Genelia Deshmukh as Saibai, with music by Ajay-Atul and cinematography by Santosh Sivan.

Raja Shivaji, directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh in the titular role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has opened in cinemas today with early Day 1 live tracking showing Rs. 1.59 crore India net across 1,265 shows, with final figures still to be reported. The grand historical epic which also marks Riteish Deshmukh's big-screen directorial debut features a powerhouse ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh. The film's pre-release 'Chhatrapati' anthem trended nationwide and was hailed as one of the most powerful pieces of music from an Indian historical in recent memory. Stay updated with all live Day 1 tracking, day-wise collections and the complete opening day box office story of Raja Shivaji.

Riteish Deshmukh's historical drama 'Raja Shivaji' faces backlash over a trailer scene depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj showing the 'Wagh Nakh' to Afzal Khan before their encounter. Critics question the historical accuracy, alleging manipulation of Maharashtra's pride. Deshmukh urged viewers to watch the film for answers, sparking further debate.

Riteish Deshmukh’s 'Raja Shivaji' trailer showcases the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with grand visuals and music by Ajay Atul. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and Genelia Deshmukh, features Salman Khan’s cameo, and highly anticipated releases worldwide on May 1 2026, clashing with 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'.

The show is going to telecast a 1-hour special ''Afzal Khan Vadh' episode on the occasion of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Jayanti on February 19.

Maratha history enthusiast Digpal Lanjekar who is making headlines for his upcoming historical epic 'Sher Shivraj', revealed the reason for casting veteran star Mukesh Rishi to play Afzal Khan in 'Sher Shivaji'.

The Maharashtra government on Monday gave a detailed status report on the demolition work carried out in and around the the Afzal Khan tomb at Pratapgad fort in Satara district and said all illegal structures and encroachments in the forest land have been removed as directed by the Bombay HC 14 years ago.

The actor is currently vacationing with his family in Texas.

Amol Kolhe, the renowned Marathi actor known for portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, celebrated Shiv Pratap Din, a significant day in Maratha history. He shared a throwback clip where he embodies Shivaji Maharaj, commemorating the event that took place on this day in 1659. Kolhe's message to his fans resonates with the enduring legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, highlighting how he defeated Afzal Khan's demonic power through strategic planning and loyalty. This day celebrates the triumph of righteousness over cunning force, inspiring generations.

The demolition exercise started in the early hours of Thursday amid heavy police bandobast and was still on, officials said.

Veer Shivaji seems to be doing well. Having taken a leap of a few years, this biographical drama aired on COLORS is seeing a flurry of new characters.

The most awaited world television premiere of Marathi film 'Sher Shivraj' is scheduled soon. The film is slated for its premiere on August 14 is all set to air at noon 12 pm. The film is expected to transport viewers back to the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharashtra

After unveiling the characters and leaving the audience buzzing with excitement, the makers of Chinmay Mandlekar starrer 'Sher Shivraj' takes us on a historical battle as they release the trailer of the film today.

Taking a dig at union home minister Amit Shah without naming him, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday, "No matter how many Afzal Khans come, I will not be afraid."