India’s T-Series has boarded “The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Sandeep Singh’s historical epic starring “Kantara” actor Rishab Shetty as the Maratha king.
The project will now be made in two parts, and filming begins in early 2027.
Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar will produce for T-Series Films, and Shetty also comes on as a co-producer. To mark the partnership, Bhushan Kumar presented Shetty with a century-old painting of the Maratha ruler.
Shetty wrote, directed and starred in “Kantara,” the 2022 Kannada-language hit that won him the Indian National Film Award for best actor. Its prequel, “Kantara: Chapter 1,” was released in 2025 and grossed more than $91 million worldwide.
Shetty and Singh first announced the film in December 2024.
Across the two films, the saga will follow Shivaji Maharaj through his major battles and victories, the sacrifices that came with them and episodes from his life that are less widely known. The story centers on his skill as a military strategist, his leadership and his idea of Swarajya.
The production will have a large ensemble cast. Its creative team combines talent from India and abroad.
“Maharashtra and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have given us a legacy to be proud of, and I believe it is our responsibility to honor that legacy through cinema and share it with the world,” Bhushan Kumar said. “When Sandeep Singh narrated ‘The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,’ I felt a deep sense of responsibility to bring this extraordinary story to the big screen.”
Kumar cited Shetty’s screen presence and his ability to bring legendary figures to life, adding that he believes the team is the right combination “to bring the courage, vision and spirit of Swarajya to audiences across generations. For T-Series, this is more than a film; it is a tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his timeless legacy.”
Shivaji founded the Maratha kingdom in 17th-century western India and spent much of his life fighting the Mughal Empire. He is revered in Maharashtra and a frequent subject for Indian filmmakers. Recent films about him and his circle include “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior” (2020), the Marathi film “Har Har Mahadev” (2022) and “Chhaava” (2025), which centered on his son Sambhaji. In May, Riteish Deshmukh directed “Raja Shivaji” and starred in it as the king. Released in the Hindi and Marathi languages, it became the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time.
Pre-production is under way ahead of the 2027 shoot.
Singh co-wrote the film with Rishi Virmani. Gulshan Kumar and T-Series Films present the project, which Legend Studios produces alongside T-Series Films. Shiv Chanana and Kabiir Sadanand join Shetty as co-producers.
Source: variety.com
