“Raja Shivaji” Joins the Three-Hour Film Trend
In recent years, the film industry has seen a shift in attitudes toward lengthy movies. Just a few years ago, films over three hours were less favored, but that changed with the release of Animal in 2023. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, this film had an impressive runtime of 203 minutes, which audiences embraced wholeheartedly. Following that, Pushpa 2 – The Rule (2024) was released with a 200-minute duration. Then came Dhurandhar (2025) at 214 minutes, and its sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge (2026), even longer at 229 minutes. Additionally, Border 2 (2026) also made a mark with a runtime of 199 minutes. Notably, all these films performed exceptionally well at the box office. Now, Raja Shivaji is stepping into the spotlight, set to join this impressive list.
Recently, it was confirmed that Raja Shivaji, a historical drama, completed its censor process on April 24. The film’s Marathi version is about 195 minutes long, which translates to 3 hours and 15 minutes. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted it a U/A 16+ certificate.
To meet regulatory standards, the film required a few adjustments. The CBFC advised the filmmakers to enhance the clarity of disclaimers and include a voiceover. They were also instructed to clarify the reasoning behind the film’s title and provide documentation for the historical references used throughout. Additionally, the board requested that key dates of historical events be included in the film with relevant text slates.
While ensuring the content met these requirements, only two minor cuts were requested. The depiction of violence involving a young boy was to be amended, and audio had to be added to certain silent visuals.
Featuring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Raja Shivaji also stars Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and several others. The film is produced by the Mumbai Film Company, led by Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, alongside Jio Studios. Audiences can look forward to its theatrical release on May 1.
