Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji Hindi version 8 minutes shorter than Marathi, here's why

Riteish Deshmukh`s Raja Shivaji (Pic/IMDB)

Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji is one of the most anticipated films of the year. While the actor confirmed it will be released in multiple languages, as per CBFC certification, the Hindi version of the film will be 8 minutes shorter than the Marathi version. The decision has been implemented by Riteish Deshmukh, as he wants to keep the narrative crisp while retaining local flavour for a niche audience.

Raja Shivaji's Hindi version shorter than Marathi

As per a report by Bollywood Hungama, Raja Shivaji's Marathi version received CBFC certification on April 24, according to which the runtime is 195.05 minutes, which is 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 5 seconds. Meanwhile, the Hindi version of the movie will be exactly 8 minutes shorter; in other words, the Hindi version of the film will be 3 hours, 7 minutes, and 5 seconds long. No changes were asked by the CBFC, as all modifications were already done for the Marathi version.

Revealing the reason behind the crisp runtime for the Hindi version, an industry insider told the portal, "Usually, two versions of a film have the exact same duration. However, Riteish Deshmukh has tried a novel experiment and kept the narrative crisp for the Hindi audience. Meanwhile, for the Marathi audience, which would probably be more attracted to the film due to the local flavour, the actor-director has gone for a longer version."

More about Raja Shivaji

Made under the direction of Riteish Deshmukh, Raja Shivaji brings together an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh, among others. Apart from directing the drama, Riteish has also written and produced it, along with playing the titular character. Presented by Jio Studios, Raja Shivaji, a Mumbai Film Company production, is backed by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh.

Raja Shivaji is a historical epic inspired by the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India. He established an independent kingdom by challenging the Deccan Sultanates and the Mughal Empire. The film is set to release in cinemas across the globe on May 1. The drama will be available in multiple languages, including Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu.