Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a stay on the release of the Marathi-Hindi bilingual film Raja Shivaji, allowing it to hit theatres as scheduled on May 1, 2026.
The petition had objected to the omission of the honorific “Chhatrapati” from the film’s title, claiming it disrespected the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Court finds no public interest
A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad rejected the plea, stating that it did not raise any genuine public interest concern.
The court observed that there was nothing in the title “Raja Shivaji” that could be considered derogatory or insulting to the revered Maratha king. It also noted that the petition appeared to be motivated and was filed just two days before the film’s release.
Petition sought title change
The plea was filed by the Sree Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Foundation, which argued that dropping the prefix “Chhatrapati” hurt the sentiments of Shivaji Maharaj’s followers.
The petitioner had requested the court to direct the filmmakers to rename the movie as “Chhatrapati Raja Shivaji” and to restrict its release and screening until the change was made.
Makers clarify historical context
During the hearing, counsel for the film’s producers informed the court that the story focuses on Shivaji Maharaj’s life before his coronation in 1674, when he officially received the title of “Chhatrapati”.
The filmmakers, including Riteish Deshmukh, along with producers Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh, stated that a disclaimer explaining this context had already been included and approved by the Central Board of Film Certification.
They also pointed out that the project had been publicly announced in February 2024, and the title had been in the public domain well before the release date.
Court cautions against misuse of PIL
In its final remarks, the High Court emphasised that public interest litigation is meant to address genuine public concerns and should not be misused for last-minute objections without substantial grounds.
Conclusion
With the court dismissing the plea, Raja Shivaji is set for its scheduled release. The ruling reinforces judicial caution against misuse of PILs while underlining the importance of context in creative works depicting historical figures.
ed public interest.
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