Rishab Shetty, known for his breakout role in Kantara, will portray the legendary 17th-century ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the upcoming historical drama The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Directed by Sandeep Singh, the film is set for release on January 27, 2025.

The first look of Shetty as Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled on Instagram by Singh, who described the film as an epic saga celebrating India’s greatest warrior king. The Pride of Bharat marks Singh’s directorial debut after producing successful films like Mary Kom (2014) and Jhund (2022). The biopic, set to release in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and English, will highlight Shivaji Maharaj’s strategic brilliance in founding the Maratha Empire.

This film adds to the many adaptations of Shivaji's life, with over 60 films made about him so far. In addition to The Pride of Bharat, another film on Shivaji, Raja Shivaji, is also in production by Jio Studios and Mumbai Film Company.

Rishab Shetty is also busy with upcoming projects, including Kantara 2 (2025) and Jai Hanuman (2026).

Our Honour & Privilege, Presenting the Epic Saga of India’s Greatest Warrior King – The Pride of Bharat: #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj. #ThePrideOfBharatChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj

This isn’t just a film – it’s a battle cry to honor a warrior who fought against all odds, challenged… pic.twitter.com/CeXO2K9H9Q

— Rishab Shetty (@shetty_rishab) December 3, 2024