Riteish Reacts To Raja Shivaji's Comparisons With Chhaava & Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior: Not Going To Get....

Riteish Deshmukh’s period drama Raja Shivaji has crossed Rs 50 crore at the box office, even as film fans compare it with Tanhaji and Chhaava. Riteish said these projects sit in different spaces, praised Ajay Devgn and Vicky Kaushal, and stressed how support from fellow actors reflects a healthy atmosphere in the Hindi and Marathi film industries.

The film features a large ensemble cast built around Maratha history. Alongside Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sanjay Dutt plays Afzal Khan and Abhishek Bachchan appears as Shivaji’s elder brother Shambhu. Genelia Deshmukh stars as Saibai, with Bhagyashree as Jijabai, while Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan and Salman Khan, who appears as Jeeva Mahale, also join the project.

Riteish Deshmukh on Raja Shivaji, Tanhaji, Chhaava comparisons

Addressing the constant comparisons, Riteish Deshmukh explained that Raja Shivaji is a Marathi film designed for a wider audience, including Hindi viewers, whereas Tanhaji and Chhaava are mainstream Hindi productions. He said, "What happens is that when we are doing a film called Raja Shivaji, it's a Marathi film available in Hindi. Tanhaji and Chhaava are Hindi films, right? So the scale and context are much more different."

Riteish Deshmukh acknowledged that such debates are normal whenever large historical dramas reach theatres but said that personal comparisons do not interest Riteish. The actor stated, "Of course people are comparing and it's okay; they can. I'm not going to get into that," and added that audience curiosity is natural when several films explore similar Maratha stories.

Riteish Deshmukh, Raja Shivaji and admiration for Tanhaji, Chhaava stars

While distancing Raja Shivaji from direct comparison with Tanhaji and Chhaava, Riteish Deshmukh praised Ajay Devgn and Vicky Kaushal for their work. Referring to Ajay as “AJ”, Riteish said, "Their work itself, when you look at them perform, what they did was truly magical on screen. Their journey, their choices were different. They did create history in a way."

Riteish Deshmukh also shared that both Ajay Devgn and Vicky Kaushal shot promotional content for Raja Shivaji, as all three films centre on Maratha heroes. Riteish highlighted this as an example of colleagues backing one another’s efforts, even when films occupy similar historical territory and compete for attention among Hindi and regional cinema watchers.

Riteish Deshmukh on Raja Shivaji talks with Vicky Kaushal and Ajay Devgn

Speaking about personal interactions around Raja Shivaji, Riteish Deshmukh revealed that a recent meeting with Vicky Kaushal turned into a long conversation about their creative journeys. Riteish said, "When myself and Vicky discussed, he said, 'I want to come and talk about your journey,' and it was just beautiful," describing how both actors compared notes on working in lavish period dramas.

Riteish Deshmukh added that discussions with Ajay Devgn centred on the effort behind making Raja Shivaji and other historical films. Describing those exchanges, Riteish said, "With AJ, it was just as filmmakers, actors, producers. What goes into making a historical? What are the choices you make? Why do you want to make a movie like this?" These talks covered both technical decisions and emotional investment.

Film	Language Focus	Key Lead	Type
Raja Shivaji	Marathi with Hindi availability	Riteish Deshmukh	Theatrical historical drama
Tanhaji	Hindi	Ajay Devgn	Theatrical historical drama
Chhaava	Hindi	Vicky Kaushal	Theatrical historical drama

For Riteish Deshmukh, conversations around Raja Shivaji, Tanhaji and Chhaava highlight mutual respect more than rivalry. Riteish emphasised, "It's important for the audience to know that apart from discussing, we are all brothers standing up for each other, being there for each other," underlining that behind box office numbers, promotions and comparisons, there is an ongoing sense of camaraderie within the film industry.