Actor and filmmaker Riteish Deshmukh has dismissed reports claiming that his historical action drama Raja Shivaji was produced on a budget of Rs 100 crore, saying only the producers are aware of the actual production cost.
Released in theatres on May 1, the film has been performing strongly in the Marathi market while also drawing steady audience interest in Hindi-speaking regions.
Speculation surrounding its reported big-budget scale has recently sparked debate across the industry.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Deshmukh said filmmakers should avoid focusing on budget discussions, arguing that such figures have little impact on the audience’s viewing experience.
“Only the producers know the real budget,” he said, adding that audiences should focus on enjoying the film rather than debating production expenses.
Deshmukh remarked that when people ask him about the film’s budget, he responds by asking how much they paid for a ticket. According to him, that is all viewers need to think about while watching a movie.
Reflecting on his childhood memories of watching classics like Sholay, the actor said audiences in earlier decades were more interested in cinematic entertainment than box office numbers or actor salaries.
He also observed that conversations about film budgets and actors’ fees have become increasingly common in recent years, largely due to the industry’s own promotional culture.
Produced by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company, the film features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh, while Salman Khan appears in a cameo role.
The film tells the story of Shivaji Bhosale and his rise against powerful forces to establish Hindavi Swarajya.
Source: NDTV
