'Raja Shivaji': Abhishek Bachchan’s Sambhaji is NOT Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in'Chhaava'!

The much-anticipated first-look teaser of Raja Shivaji dropped on Thursday, with Riteish Deshmukh essaying the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Within 17 hours of the teaser dropping on YouTube, it has managed over 1,41,200 views.

Alongside Deshmukh, who also donned the director's hat for the ambitious period drama, a stardom-heavy cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Genelia Deshmukh, Vidya Balan, and many others was seen in the teaser. Particularly noticeable was Abhishek Bachchan, who was seen swinging his sword at enemy soldiers. The Bollywood actor is playing Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale—the elder brother of Shivaji Maharaj.

The name may confuse some, as the successor of Shivaji was Sambhaji Maharaj, who succeeded his father as the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. The young king's rivalry with Emperor Aurangzeb was the plot of the 2025 Hindi period drama Chhaava, with Vicky Kaushal essaying the role of the Maratha warrior. However, Sambhaji Maharaj is not to be confused with his uncle, Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, who died before the former's birth. It is probable that Shivaji named his firstborn after his late brother, who was a great warrior.

READ HERE | Vicky Kaushal ‘Chhaava’ fervour: How did Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Kavi Kalash die? 5 FACTS

Who was Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale?

Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale was born in 1623 to Shahaji and Jijabai. Shahaji was a general in the court of Ahmadnagar at the time of his birth. Sambhaji worked in close quarters with his father as a nobleman in the court of Ibrahim Adil Shah II. When his father was stationed in Bangalore, Sambhaji remained with him, while Shivaji and his mother remained in Pune.

It is said that Sambhaji fought his first pitched battle against the Mughals when he was just 15 years old. He was able to repel a Mughal assault on Junnar, and the Sultanate started seeing him as a fierce enemy who was hard to defeat.

In 1648, during a Bijapur campaign to support the rebellion of the Nayakas against the Vijayanagara king, Sriranga III, Shahaji was arrested for acting against the interests of Bijapur. Taking advantage of this opportunity, one Mustafa Khan claimed to have certain rights to the fortress of Kanakagiri, which had been conferred by the Bijapur government on Shahaji Bhosale.

Instigated, if not actually aided, by a member of the royal household named Afzal Khan, Mustafa Khan overpowered Shahaji's garrison and occupied Kanakagiri. According to information available in "A History of the Maratha People" by the British India-era civil service officer Charles Augustus Kincaid, Sambhaji decided to retake the fort.

What happened to Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale?

When he understood that Mustafa Khan had fortified his defences, Sambhaji sent a letter urging him to refer the dispute to the King at Bijapur. "While negotiations were proceeding, Mustafa Khan treacherously ordered his artillerymen to hit, if they could, Sambhaji and the knot of officers round him. The batteries opened fire and a cannonball, hitting Sambhaji, killed him instantly," the book states.

According to Kincaid, the treachery did not help Khan improve his position, as Shahaji led a force from Bangalore to Kanakagiri and stormed it. However, the book claimed that the generous man spared the life of his son's killer.

Also noteworthy in this episode is the role of Afzal Khan. The chieftain was jealous of the Bhosales and played a role in the betrayal that led to the fall of Sambhaji. "...the battle of Kanakagiri must have taken place at the beginning of 1654 AD. It is said that Sambhaji Raja should have lived until the year 1663, VC Bendre says. However, in the year 1657, Shivaji Maharaj named the son born to Saibai as Sambhaji Raje. If his elder brother, Sambhaji Raje, were alive at this time, it is obvious that Shivaji Maharaj would not have named his son after him. From that, the year 1654 seems to be acceptable," a report said.

"Sambhaji Raja had a son named Umaji. He and his mother, Jayantibai, were brought from Karnataka by Jijabai and placed in Raigad with dignity. Jayantibai is mentioned in Marathi documents only until the year 1670. Umaji is mentioned in a Mahajar dated 1683. In fact, Venkojiraja was supposed to have given some share in the Jahagiri of Bangalore to this Umaji; but nothing seems to have happened," the document added.

While there were many reasons for Shivaji Maharaj to eliminate Afzal Khan, his hand in the untimely passing of Shivaji's brother was one among them.