‘The Pride of Bharat’: Rishab Shetty, Bhushan Kumar Announce Grand Shivaji Maharaj Biopic

Producer Bhushan Kumar, actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty and director Sandeep Singh have joined hands for an ambitious two-part historical film titled ‘ The Pride of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ’, which will bring the life and legacy of the legendary Maratha ruler to the big screen. The film is scheduled to go on floors in early 2027.

Kumar’s production house T-Series has come on board as a producer, while Shetty will serve as co-producer. The project will be directed by Singh, with the makers planning an ensemble cast and an international creative team to bring the historical epic to life.

The two-part saga will explore Shivaji Maharaj’s military campaigns, leadership, victories, sacrifices and vision of Swarajya. It will also shed light on lesser-known episodes from the life of the 17th-century ruler, whose legacy continues to hold a significant place in Indian history.

The collaboration brings together Kumar, known for backing successful Hindi film productions under T-Series, and Shetty, who earned nationwide recognition with the Kannada blockbuster ‘ Kantara ’ (2022).

To mark the beginning of their association, Kumar presented Shetty with a century-old painting of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Kumar said he believes it is the responsibility of filmmakers to honour Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy through cinema and introduce his remarkable story to audiences across the world. He added that Singh’s narration convinced him to take up the project, while Shetty’s screen presence and ability to portray larger-than-life characters would add strength to the film.

Pre-production is currently underway, with filming expected to begin in early 2027.

Presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series Films, the film is a joint production of T-Series Films and Legend Studios. Kumar and Krishan Kumar are the producers, while Shiv Chanana, Kabiir Sadanand and Shetty are co-producers. The screenplay has been written by Rishi Virmani and Singh.