The Bombay High Court has recently dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that aimed to halt the release of the upcoming Marathi-Hindi film Raja Shivaji. This decision clears the way for the film’s scheduled release on May 1, 2026. The petition raised concerns over the absence of the honorific “Chhatrapati” in the title, claiming it disrespects the legacy of the revered Maratha leader, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The PIL was submitted by the Sree Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Foundation, which argued that dropping “Chhatrapati” hurt the feelings of Shivaji Maharaj’s followers. They requested the court to compel the filmmakers to rename the movie to Chhatrapati Raja Shivaji and to enforce restrictions on its release and public showing until the title was changed.
A division bench, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, rejected the petition. The judges observed that the lawsuit did not present a genuine public cause and mentioned that it was filed just two days before the movie’s premiere.
The court concluded that the title Raja Shivaji was not disrespectful towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It seemed the petition was motivated, lacking true intentions of public interest.
Respondents in the case included the Union of India, the State of Maharashtra, the Central Board of Film Certification, actor-director Riteish Deshmukh, and other producers. During the hearing, lawyers for the film’s producers explained that the narrative focuses on Shivaji Maharaj’s life before he was crowned in 1674, at which time he officially received the title of “Chhatrapati.” They also confirmed that a disclaimer providing this context had been included and approved by the film board.
The producers pointed out that the film had been publicly announced in February 2024, and the release date was shared in 2025, suggesting the title was already known to the public for some time.
In its final remarks, the High Court emphasized that public interest litigation should genuinely address public concerns rather than being misused for last-minute objections.
