Producer Bhushan Kumar of T-Series has announced a collaboration with actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty and director Sandeep Singh on the actor's recently announced project. The latest development is that 'The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj', initially planned as a single epic, will now expand across two films.
The film will explore the life of the legendary 17th-century Maratha ruler, focusing on his military campaigns, major victories and vision of Swarajya, or self-rule.
Rishab Shetty, who gained nationwide recognition with "Kantara", will play the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film is being written and directed by Sandeep Singh. Bhumi Pednekar, Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi are reportedly sharing the screen with Rishab. Further details about the ensemble are awaited.
T-Series Films and Legend Studios will jointly back the project. Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar are the producers, while Rishab Shetty, Shiv Chanana and Kabiir Sadanand are associated as co-producers. Pre-production is already underway, and filming is expected to begin in early 2027.
To mark the beginning of this collaboration, Bhushan Kumar presented Rishab Shetty with a century-old painting of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The gesture served as a symbolic tribute to the historical figure at the centre of the film.
The makers are planning the project on a large cinematic scale, with a creative team that includes experienced Indian and international professionals. The screenplay is being written by Sandeep Singh and Rishi Virmani, based on an original story developed by Abhijeet Balerao, Siddharth Singh and Garima Wahal.
The music will be composed by National Award-winning composer Pritam, with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Amit Trivedi will also contribute to the music. Ravi Varman, known for his work on "Ponniyin Selvan", will handle cinematography, while Philomin Raj, whose credits include "Leo" and "Vikram", will handle editing duties.
The film will also see the involvement of an international action team. Action directors Mark Henson, known for "Game of Thrones" and "Vikings", Vlad Rimburg, known for "The Fate of the Furious", and Craig Macrae, known for "Troy: Fall of a City", will work on the action sequences. Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty will oversee sound design, while Ashley Rebello and Anju Modi will look after costumes. Mukesh Chhabra will lead casting.
In a recent interview with Variety India, Rishab Shetty said he wishes to focus on one project at a time. He has made it clear that he does not intend to shoot multiple films at the same time, especially since his upcoming roles require different physical appearances and transformations.
His immediate priority is "Jai Hanuman", the mythological epic in which he will also star in the titular role. Once completed, he will move on to "The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj".
At the same time, Rishab also mentioned that work has begun on the script development and pre-production of "Kantara: Chapter 2", following the release of "Kantara: Chapter 1" in 2025.
