Actor Riteish Deshmukh has written, directed, produced, and starred in the film Raja Shivaji on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film’s trailer was released recently, and one of the criticisms it received was for a scene featuring Sanjay Dutt and a Wagh Nakh (tiger claw). The actor-filmmaker responded to the criticism.
Criticism for Riteish Deshmukh over Wagh Nakh scene
An X (formerly Twitter) user slammed Riteish over supposed historical inaccuracies in the trailer of Raja Shivaji. He wrote, “Did Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj show the “Wagh Nakh” to Afzal Khan? Wagh Nakh came out only after Afzal attacked Maharaj. Why is @Riteishd manipulating the glorious history of Maharashtra?”
In another post, he attached screenshots of the scene he was talking about, writing, “The trailer of Riteish Deshmukh’s film shows Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj openly displaying the Wagh Nakh to Afzal Khan before the attack. It is historical fact that “Wagh Nakh” was concealed and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used it only after attack by Afzal.”
He also added, “WHY IS @RITEISHD MANIPULATING & INSULTING CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ’S & MAHARASHTRA’S HISTORY, LEGACY & PRIDE???”
Riteish Deshmukh responds to criticism
Riteish responded to the X user. Re-tweeting their criticism, he wrote, “Respected Sir, pls do watch the film on 1st May.. the answer to your question is there in the movie. I hope you enjoy the film with your friends and family. Jai Shivrai (folded hands emoji).”
However, the X user seemed unconvinced as they replied, “So the truth is ‘inside the film’? “Watch the film for answers” is fine for fiction, not history. When depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the trailer itself should answer questions, not raise them. Interesting strategy: Market Doubt, Sell Clarification.”
Fans, however, reasoned with the X user, with one commenting, “I think the scene is after Afzhal was stabbed.” Another wrote, “It’s a movie take it as a movie, if you like go and see if you don’t, don’t go. It’s simple. We have CBFC etc bodies to take care of it.” One even commented, “Pehle dekh toh lo bhai. Tum logon ne itna bewakoof samjha h kya Ritesh Deshmukh ko …. Itna toh usne research kari hi hogi (Watch the film first. Riteish Deshmukh must have researched before making the film).. Even he would know Distorting history might have many troubles. Unnecessary rant.”
Raja Shivaji is produced by Genelia D’Souza and Jyoti Deshpande. It also stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte, and Genelia. The film will be released in theatres in Marathi and Hindi on May 1.
