Actor Riteish Deshmukh received an overwhelmingly emotional welcome when he made a surprise appearance at a screening of his film ‘Raja Shivaji’ at a Mumbai theatre. A fan touching his feet in a moment of deep reverence has since gone viral, capturing the strong connection audiences feel with his portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Fans surround Riteish Deshmukh; one touches his feet in an emotional moment
A video shared by an Instagram user showed Riteish Deshmukh walking into an ongoing screening of ‘Raja Shivaji’, instantly sending the audience into a frenzy. Fans crowded around him, cheering and expressing their admiration for his performance. The energy in the auditorium was electric, but the moment that truly stood out was when one emotional fan rushed toward the actor and touched his feet as a mark of love and respect for his depiction of the founder of the Maratha empire.
‘Raja Shivaji’ box office
The emotional reception at theatres is reflected in the film’s box office performance as well. According to the Sacnilk report, ‘Raja Shivaji’s opening weekend gross in India stood at a strong Rs 40.34 crore. The Indian net collection over three days reached Rs 33.90 crore. Of the Day 3 total, the Marathi version contributed approximately Rs 7.75 crore, while the Hindi version brought in around Rs 4.25 crore.
About ‘Raja Shivaji’
‘Raja Shivaji’ features Riteish Deshmukh in the lead role as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with Genelia D’Souza playing Saibai. The film boasts a powerful ensemble cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, and Amole Gupte.Salman Khan‘s special appearance in the film has also been generating strong reactions inside theatres, adding another layer of excitement for audiences.It was released in cinemas on May 1, 2026.
