Riteish Deshmukh is all set to rock the box office with the biggest movie of his career Raja Shivaji.

Besides starring in the lead role, Riteish Deshmukh has also produced and directed the movie.

The period epic also features a big ensemble of stars including a crowd-pleasing cameo by Salman Khan.

© Mumbai Film Company

In a Marathi interview as quoted by Mid-Day, Riteish revealed, “When I did Lai Bhaari, Salman Khan was in it. At the time, he requested, ‘I want to do a scene.’ When I was working on Ved, I called him and said, ‘Brother, I want to meet you.’ He said, ‘Done!’ I said, ‘When?’ He said, ‘For which role do you want to meet? It’s done.’ He just asked me, ‘How many days is the shoot?’ I said, ‘Two days,’ and he just said, ‘Done,’”

However, when it came to Raja Shivaji, Riteish revealed he didn’t approach Salman Khan but instead, he insisted on being a part of the movie.

Sharing the same, Riteish added, “I didn’t go to him for this film. We were together on New Year’s. He asked me when I was starting to shoot the movie. I said, ‘It’s starting this month.’ He said, ‘Which role am I playing?’”

“He said, ‘No, no, no... you can’t make the film without me, I have to be in it.’ That sense of warmth and belonging, that emotion... I was thinking that I hadn’t really thought it through yet. He said, ‘I should have a role in the film.’ Then there was a role... and Salman Khan was also a part of this film,” Riteish signed off.

Salman Khan will be seen playing Jeeva Mahala, who was one of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s most trusted aides.

Raja Shivaji also stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan and Genelia Deshmukh.

Raja Shivaji releases in theatres on May 1, 2026.