The conversation around Raja Shivaji shifted sharply within hours of its trailer launch, and not in the way its makers would have hoped. Riteish Deshmukh’s ambitious historical drama, mounted around the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has triggered a wave of online criticism, with a section of viewers openly questioning his casting in a role loaded with immense cultural and cinematic weight.
The trailer, unveiled on April 20, quickly ignited debate across social media and discussion forums. Much of that attention zeroed in on Riteish’s screen presence, voice and overall impact in the part. One Reddit user wrote, “He’s such a misfit for the movie,” while another added, “Unfortunately, it’s true. His voice doesn’t have that power. This will be like Akshay Kumar in the Prithviraj movie.” A separate comment read, “He can’t do justice to the role.”
Why The Casting Debate Took Over The Trailer Launch
What pushed the conversation further was the specificity of the criticism. Several viewers argued that a film on Shivaji Maharaj demanded a more commanding physicality and deeper vocal authority. Comments shared online described Riteish as lacking “the aura and personality to carry the role of a warrior,” while others pointed to his “tone and dialogue delivery” as the weak link. Some users even floated alternate names, with one comment saying, “Ram Charan would look good in this movie,” and another backing Sharad Kelkar for the part.
The criticism did not stop with the lead performance. A few reactions widened into a broader complaint about the ensemble, with comments calling the choices “terrible casting” and “worst casting of this decade.” Yet the response online stood in striking contrast to the mood at the Mumbai trailer launch, where Riteish turned emotional while speaking about the years behind the project and thanked Abhishek Bachchan and his wife Genelia Deshmukh for supporting him through the process.
Why Raja Shivaji Has Become A High Stakes Test For Riteish Deshmukh
That contrast is exactly why the backlash feels more intense than a routine trailer debate. Raja Shivaji is not a standard star vehicle but a film where Riteish is carrying the burden on multiple fronts as actor, director and one of the key creative forces behind the project. A historical epic centered on Shivaji Maharaj comes with unusually high expectations from audiences, especially in Maharashtra, where representation, tone and performance are judged with far greater scrutiny than in a conventional commercial release.
The film’s scale also raises those stakes. Backed by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, the bilingual Marathi and Hindi project features a packed ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh. When a trailer for a film of this size draws immediate casting criticism, the conversation quickly moves beyond one performance and into whether the film can win over skeptical viewers before it reaches theatres on May 1, 2026.
For now, that is the challenge facing Raja Shivaji. The trailer has ensured strong visibility, but it has also set off an early perception battle that the film will now have to answer on the big screen.
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