Vidya Balan joins 'Raja Shivaji' cast, Riteish Deshmukh brings Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar and others for Pan-India flick

After entertaining the audience in 'Raid 2', actor Riteish Deshmukh will be seen next in 'Raja Shivaji' to life. He took on a double responsibility, playing the lead role of Shivaji and also directing the film. For this big Pan-India project from Marathi cinema, he brought together an impressive star cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and his wife Genelia Deshmukh, among others.Vidya Balan Joins the Cast of Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja ShivajiAccording to a Pinkvilla exclusive, the star-studded cast of Raja Shivaji has become even more impressive. Riteish Deshmukh and his team have brought Vidya Balan on board to play a key role in the film, “Vidya is very excited to be a part of a film that tells one of the bravest chapters of Indian History. It was an instant yes from her end to come on board Raja Shivaji, and Riteish too is ecstatic to direct a talent like Vidya in his directorial debut,” a source close to the development stated.Vidya joins the 'Raja Shivaji'Further, the source said, that the actress has done her look test for the film. “It’s a key role, and warranted the presence of a strong actor. And reaching out to Vidya was a no-brainer for Riteish too. The shooting for Raja Shivaji is going on in full swing and the makers are committed to bring it to the spectacle on May 1, 2026,”Interestingly, 'Raja Shivaji' is one of the rare Marathi cinema projects aimed at reaching a Pan-Indian audience. A source shared that the story of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj truly belongs to Maharashtra and holds deep emotional value for the entire team. The film isn’t just a project for them, it’s a heartfelt journey, and they are fully committed to presenting an honest and sincere portrayal of Shivaji’s life.