The moment a film touches history — especially a figure like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — reactions are bound to come fast. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Raja Shivaji.
Riteish Deshmukh, who’s wearing multiple hats here as actor, director, and producer, recently dropped the trailer of the film. But instead of just applause, one particular scene has sparked a debate online — and it’s not a small one.
The controversy revolves around the iconic Wagh Nakh moment.
In the trailer, there’s a scene where Shivaji Maharaj appears to show the tiger-claw weapon to Afzal Khan before the attack. That didn’t sit well with some viewers. One user on X pointed out that historically, the Wagh Nakh was concealed and only used after Afzal Khan attacked — not revealed beforehand.
The criticism quickly turned sharp, accusing the film of altering history and questioning why such a moment was presented differently.
Riteish didn’t ignore it.
Instead of getting defensive, he responded in a calm, almost measured way. He asked the critic to watch the film first, hinting that the full context would be clearer on the big screen. His reply wasn’t long or argumentative — just a simple “watch it, you’ll get your answer” kind of response, ending with “Jai Shivrai.”
But that didn’t completely settle things.
The same user pushed back again, arguing that when it comes to historical figures, even a trailer should stay accurate and not create confusion. According to them, “clarification inside the film” isn’t enough if the promotional material raises doubts in the first place.
And that’s where the conversation split.
On one side, there’s concern about historical accuracy — especially when it comes to moments that are deeply rooted in regional pride and identity. On the other, many fans stepped in to defend Riteish, saying people are jumping to conclusions without seeing the full scene.
Some suggested the trailer might be edited in a way that’s misleading, while others simply pointed out — it’s still a film, not a documentary. Watch it first, then judge.
That’s a familiar pattern now.
Historical films often walk a thin line — between storytelling and accuracy. And sometimes, even a few seconds in a trailer can trigger bigger debates than the film itself.
Coming back to Raja Shivaji, the project itself is quite ambitious. It brings together a strong cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, and Genelia D’Souza, who’s also backing the film along with Jyoti Deshpande.
The film is set to release on May 1 in both Marathi and Hindi, which means it’s targeting a wide audience — and naturally, more scrutiny.
Right now, the debate is only around a glimpse.
The real test will be whether the film, as a whole, handles the legacy with the depth and respect people expect.
Because once it hits theatres, there won’t be any trailers to blame — only the story itself.
