Bollywood
Rishab Shetty starrer Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj reportedly avoids massive box office clash with Love and War
BY SACNILK
The Indian film industry was bracing itself for one of the biggest box office face-offs in recent memory, but it looks like a major collision has been averted. We are talking about the upcoming historical epic, The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, starring Kantara fame Rishab Shetty. Reports are now circulating that the makers have decided to push back their release to avoid a direct confrontation with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's star-studded Love and War. This move is being viewed as a strategic decision to ensure both high-profile projects get the breathing room they deserve at the box office. The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is being mounted on a massive scale, marking the directorial debut of producer Sandeep Singh. To bring the 17th-century battle sequences to life, the production is reportedly utilizing international technical talent and heavy visual effects. The musical side of the project is equally ambitious, with Pritam composing the score and Prasoon Joshi handling the lyrics. With a supporting cast that includes Shefali Shah and Zanai Bhosle, the film is clearly aiming for a grand pan-Indian impact across multiple languages including Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and Malayalam. While an official announcement is still awaited, the decision to postpone makes a lot of sense when you look at the calendars of the stars involved. Rishab Shetty is currently tied up with the highly anticipated Prasanth Varma's Jai Hanuman in the pipeline. Filming for the Shivaji biopic is expected to start in earnest only after he completes his prior commitments. By moving the date, the makers can ensure that Rishab is fully available for the demanding physical role of the legendary Maratha ruler. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the other side of the potential clash, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love and War is already eyeing the lucrative four-day Republic Day weekend in early 2027. That film carries immense weight with a lead cast featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. The industry is also mindful of the other major projects these actors have lined up. Ranbir Kapoor will be seen in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part One in late 2026, while Vicky Kaushal is committed to Mahavatar. Spacing out these tentpole releases is a smart move for everyone involved, especially for a project as significant as a biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. By reportedly opting out of the early 2027 slot, the makers of the Shivaji biopic are avoiding what could have been a catastrophic split in the pan-Indian audience. A historical epic of this magnitude requires a clear window to maximize its box office potential across all regions. While we wait for the new official release date, it is clear that the production team is prioritizing the quality of the film and a clean theatrical window over a rushed release.
