Rishab Shetty's Shivaji epic gets T-Series and a second part

T-Series has boarded The Pride of Bharat – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and the film will now be made in two parts. Variety reported the news on 30 October 2026.

Rishab Shetty will star as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha king. He is also a co-producer on the project, which he first announced with Sandeep Singh in December 2024.

Filming begins in early 2027. Pre-production is already under way, and the producers are working towards that start date.

Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar will produce the film for T-Series Films. Legend Studios is also producing alongside T-Series. Shiv Chanana and Kabiir Sadanand are listed as co-producers.

Sandeep Singh co-wrote the script with Rishi Virmani. Bhushan Kumar marked the partnership by presenting Shetty with a century-old painting of Shivaji Maharaj, according to Variety.

The move to two parts is the biggest change to the plan so far. A single film has become two, and each part will need its own shoot and its own release window. Neither part has a release date yet.

The cost is also rising. The Times of India reported in June 2026 that the budget had gone past 500 crore rupees. One crore is ten million rupees.

For a film of this size, a studio partner and a production label matter. They decide who pays for the shoot, who sells the film to cinemas, and how the money comes back.

For now the film has a cast, two producers from T-Series, a writing team and a start date in early 2027. The next public update is likely to be the first look at the shoot, or a release date for part one.