Entertainment News

Rishab Shetty and T-Series plan a two-part Shivaji Maharaj epic for 2027

Producer Bhushan Kumar's T-Series has joined actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty and director Sandeep Singh on a two-part film about the 17th-century Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Hindustan Times and The Hindu report that the film is titled The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is in pre-production, and will start shooting in early 2027.

The makers say the film will cover key battles, sacrifices, victories and lesser-known parts of Shivaji's life, with an ensemble cast and Indian and international crew. To mark the deal, Kumar gave Shetty a century-old painting of Shivaji, Hindustan Times reports.

“I felt a deep sense of responsibility to bring this extraordinary story to the big screen.” — Bhushan Kumar, via The Hindu

How each outlet framed it

• Hindustan Times — two reports: an agency story with the full production credits (T-Series Films and Legend Studios, Shetty as co-producer), and its own report saying Shetty will play Shivaji and that Bhumi Pednekar, Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi have been linked to the project in earlier reports.
• The Hindu — the pairing: a producer of hit Hindi films with the Kannada star behind the Kantara films, and the makers' aim to show Shivaji's “military genius” and vision of Swarajya.

Where the accounts differ: The Hindu says the film is co-written and directed by Sandeep Singh. The agency copy in Hindustan Times credits the screenplay to Rishi Virmani and Singh. Neither outlet confirms the wider cast, and no release date has been given for either part.