Mumbai: T-Series head Bhushan Kumar has formalised a partnership with actor-director Rishab Shetty for The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a two-part historical epic that will trace the military, political and personal journeys of the Maratha ruler. Announced on October 30, the project brings together T-Series Films and Legend Studios.
Scale and responsibility
The producers say the saga will span defining battles, sacrifices, landmark victories and lesser-known chapters from Shivaji Maharaj’s life, while foregrounding his vision of Swarajya. The press release frames the film as a tribute rather than a routine biopic: Bhushan Kumar described it as more than a film, calling it “a tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his timeless legacy.”
The collaboration was marked with a century-old painting of Shivaji Maharaj presented to Shetty, a gesture the team says reflects the responsibility behind the production.
Who is making it
- Film: The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
- Format: Two-part historical epic
- Director: Sandeep Singh
- Producers: Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar
- Writers: Rishi Virmani and Sandeep Singh
- Co-producers: Rishab Shetty, Shiv Chanana and Kabiir Sadanand
- Production: T-Series Films and Legend Studios; presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series Films
- Shoot: Early 2027, with pre-production underway
Why it matters for Hindi cinema
The announcement lands as Hindi theatrical releases are being pushed toward event-scale storytelling. A two-part structure raises the stakes: the first film has to establish the world, the emotional stakes and a credible visual scale while leaving enough appetite for the second.
Attaching Rishab Shetty gives the project a performer whose screen presence is being positioned as a bridge to legendary figures, while T-Series adds distribution and music muscle. The producers are promising an ensemble cast and creative crew drawn from India and overseas, though names are yet to be announced.
There is also a production logic. A story this size demands long pre-production; the early-2027 start signals that design, casting and action planning will be locked before cameras roll. That matters for a genre where hasty visual effects and hurried schedules have often shown on screen.
What to watch next
The early-2027 start date means casting, locations and production design will be the next concrete milestones. For audiences who care about Hindi cinema’s historical record, the deeper question is whether the two-part structure gives the story room to breathe or tests the patience of theatrical audiences. The timeline at least signals that the team is not rushing the film into production.
Source: ANI News
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