Abhishek Bachchan is basking in the success of his latest release Raja Shivaji, which hit theatres on May 1 and has continued to perform strongly at the box office ever since. Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, the historical drama features Abhishek as Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, the elder brother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, portrayed by Riteish himself.In a recent interaction with India Today, Abhishek opened up about the overwhelming response the film has received, especially from Marathi audiences. Recalling a memorable moment after the film’s release, the actor shared, “The other day I was stopped at a traffic signal, and someone called me Shambhu Raje. That has never happened to me before. It just shows what these figures mean to people, and that only adds to the responsibility on him as a director and writer to do justice.”The actor admitted that he was deeply moved by the affection coming his way and said he was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and appreciation from viewers. Speaking about his preparation and connection with the role, Abhishek revealed that one of the most fascinating aspects for him was discovering that Shivaji Maharaj had an elder brother and learning about the strong relationship they shared. He said he had not been aware of this chapter of history earlier, but gradually became engrossed in the political tensions, conflicts, and emotional layers of that period. Abhishek also explained that his trust in Riteish Deshmukh played a huge role in his decision to be part of the film. Reflecting on the offer, he said, “Yes, because thankfully, he had not told me the character at that point of time. See, he’s my little brother. I will do anything for him. He just has to ask. But the greater faith and love is in the fact that I know he’s not going to ask me to do something that he’s not convinced I can do. So, I think there’s that mutual understanding.”The actor further recalled how casually the project first came up in conversation. “I didn’t know he was coming to offer me a film. He just said, ‘Can I come over?’ I thought, okay, he’s just going to come hang out. But when he asks you something, I already know that he’s thought this out. So, I don’t need to think he’s just coming to take a favour. It’s not a favour. It’s something he’s thought about and convinced himself about before coming to me. He doesn’t take it lightly.”
