When Sharad Kelkar called portraying Shivaji Maharaj a 'Lifetime Honour' in Ajay Devgn's film, shared how Om Raut chose him

As the nation celebrates Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary on February 19, 2025 tributes continue to pour in. This year marks his 396th birth anniversary. In this special day let's revisit an old interview where Sharad Kelkar opened up on portraying Shivaji Maharaj in the 2020 film Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior are resurfacing.In an old conversation with Hindustan Times he revisited how grateful he felt for the opportunity. He described the role as a defining achievement and said it brought him immense pride both as an actor and as a Maharashtrian. Sharad Kelkar shared that he still feels thankful whenever people speak to him about the film. He added, “People 100 out of 100 times mentioned this film and my role in the conversations. It was a matter of pride.”Sharad Kelkar also looked back at how the role came to him. He revealed that director Om Raut approached him unexpectedly. Sharing the memory, he said, “I had never met or spoken to Om Raut, the director before. I was out of the country when he called and said he wanted to meet me. He then said he wanted me to play Shivaji, and I took two minutes before asking ‘why me?’ He said he wants his king to look like this, have a personality like mine.”His surprise slowly turned into confidence, Kelkar recalled how a look test helped him see what the team saw in him and describing the moment, he said, “We did a look test, and when I came to the office in that attire, everybody went quiet. Then I realized they were looking at me. That gave me a lot of confidence. For a Maharashtrian, Marathi actor, this role is once in a lifetime. It’s the biggest achievement.”Sharad Kelkar mentioned that the appreciation he received after the film’s release was overwhelming. Many viewers connected strongly with his portrayal.The film was directed by Om Raut 'Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior' and featured a powerful ensemble led by Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, and Sharad Kelkar. The film received praises for its storytelling, performances, and also for the depiction of Maratha history.