Ahead of the highly anticipated May 1 release of Raja Shivaji, a major controversy has erupted, pitting actor-director Riteish Deshmukh against Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, better known as Bageshwar Baba. The row began after Shastri, while speaking at a foundation event in Nagpur, made contentious claims suggesting that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj grew exhausted from his lifelong wars and sought to relinquish his crown to Samarth Ramdas Swami.
The comments sparked immediate outrage across social media and political circles, as many viewed them as a blatant misrepresentation of the Maratha ruler’s legendary spirit and unwavering resolve. Riteish Deshmukh, who portrays the titular role in the historical epic, responded with a scathing critique on social media. Without naming the godman directly, Deshmukh stated in Marathi, “When someone comes along and spews some distorted nonsense about our cherished deity, as a Shiv-premi and Shiv-bhakt, this is unacceptable and infuriating”. He further emphasized that any attempts to belittle the legacy of the Maratha king would not be tolerated.
कोणीतरी येतो आणि आपल्या आराध्य दैवताबद्दल काहीतरी विकृत बरळतो, एक शिवप्रेमी-शिवभक्त म्हणून हे अमान्य आणि संतापजनक आहे.
असले चौकटीत अडकवण्याचे फोल प्रयत्न काळाच्या उदरात गडप होतील. पण सह्याद्रीच्या पर्वतरांगा जशा लाखो वर्ष आधी होत्या तसंच ‘ते’ एकच नाव करोडो वर्ष भविष्यातही राहील.…— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) April 26, 2026
The backlash was swift, and following the sharp rebuke from Deshmukh and widespread public condemnation, Bageshwar Baba reportedly issued an apology regarding his remarks. This incident adds another layer of complexity to the lead-up for Raja Shivaji, a project that has already faced intense scrutiny and debate regarding its historical accuracy—including earlier discussions over scenes featuring the ‘wagh nakh’.
Despite the “noise” surrounding the film, Deshmukh remains committed to the project’s vision. Raja Shivaji, backed by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh under the Mumbai Film Company, aims to present a grand cinematic tribute to the life and legacy of the Maratha icon. Featuring a sprawling ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Fardeen Khan, the film continues to generate significant buzz as it nears its pan-India release across Marathi, Hindi, and Telugu markets. With the apology from Shastri, the team now hopes to refocus public attention on the cinematic achievement of the film rather than the political and social controversies swirling around it.