Abhishek Bachchan has finally spoken up about the ongoing buzz surrounding actor fees in Riteish Deshmukh’s big-budget historical film Raja Shivaji. Speaking to News18, the actor directly addressed false claims that were spreading online about the cast charging huge amounts for the film.
What Abhishek Bachchan Said
Abhishek made it clear that for him, this film was never about money. He said that cinema, when approached with the right intent, becomes something bigger than numbers. Referring to Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh’s dedication, he stated, “They never approached it as a project. It was very sacred to them.”
He also pushed back on what he called an unhealthy obsession with actor fees and box office projections in today’s film industry, saying not everything in cinema can be reduced to figures.
Why Stars Waived Their Fees
Earlier, Riteish Deshmukh had revealed that several actors — including Salman Khan, Vidya Balan, and Abhishek Bachchan — either reduced or completely waived their fees for Raja Shivaji. According to Riteish, the decision came out of deep respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and their personal bond with him.
When social media posts started circulating with made-up fee figures for the cast, Abhishek chose to speak out and clear the air directly.
About Raja Shivaji
Raja Shivaji is directed by Riteish Deshmukh and also stars Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, Salman Khan (in a cameo), Genelia Deshmukh, Mahesh Manjrekar, Fardeen Khan, and Bhagyashree. The film is a tribute to the legendary Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The film released on 1 May 2026 — Maharashtra Day — across six languages: Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Music is by Ajay-Atul, and legendary cinematographer Santosh Sivan handled the visuals.
For Abhishek, this film also marked a personal milestone — it was his first time speaking Marathi on screen. He plays the role of Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, the elder brother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His performance has received strong initial reactions from audiences online.
Public and Box Office Response
The film opened to largely positive first-day reactions, with audiences praising its scale and direction. Salman Khan’s cameo reportedly drew loud cheers in theatres across Maharashtra and beyond.
Raja Shivaji is being seen as one of the most ambitious Marathi films made to date, both in terms of production scale and the star power involved.