26 April,2026 04:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Riteish Deshmukh
Riteish Deshmukh is currently gearing up for the release of his film Raja Shivaji, which he has directed, acted in, written, and produced. After the release of the trailer, it landed in controversy over the depiction of the Wagh Nakh used in the film. Now, Riteish has slammed those calling him out for distorting facts.
Taking to his X handle, Riteish wrote, "When someone comes along and spews some distorted nonsense about our cherished deity, as a Shiv-premi, Shiv-bhakt, this is unacceptable and infuriating. Such futile attempts to trap it within frames will be swallowed up in the belly of time. But just as the mountain ranges of the Sahyadri have existed for millions of years before, so too will âthat' one name endure for crores of years in the future. And that name is⦠Pratap Purandar⦠of the Kshatriya lineage⦠Lord of the Throne⦠Emperor of Emperors⦠the wealthy Rajashiv Chhatrapati Maharaj."
The scene in question shows Riteish as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj confronting Afzal Khan using the Wagh Nakh (tiger claws), a well-known incident from the Maharaj's life. An X user slammed Riteish Deshmukh for historical inaccuracies in the trailer. Riteish responded to the X user. Sharing the post, he wrote, "Respected Sir, pls do watch the film on 1st May⦠the answer to your question is there in the movie. I hope you enjoy the film with your friends and family. Jai Shivrai (folded hands emoji)."
Meanwhile, Raja Shivaji portrays the legacy of the Maratha warrior-king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte, Genelia Deshmukh, and Riteish Deshmukh. The film blends visual grandeur with a deeply emotional and inspiring narrative rooted in the birth of Swarajya. The film is set to release in cinemas worldwide on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu.
