Riteish Deshmukh’s historical drama Raja Shivaji, released in theatres on May 1, has opened to strong early audience reactions on X, with viewers praising the film’s performances, emotional intensity, and cinematic scale. The Marathi-language historical film, based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has quickly become a trending topic online as first-day reviews begin to circulate.

Early Raja Shivaji movie review reactions on social media highlight Riteish Deshmukh’s portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as one of the film’s strongest elements. Viewers have noted his physical transformation, controlled performance, and commanding screen presence, with many describing key scenes as emotionally powerful and impactful. Several users on X said the actor’s performance stands out as the emotional core of the film.

The film’s antagonist track has also received attention, with Sanjay Dutt playing Afzal Khan. Audience reactions describe his character as intense and dominating, adding weight to the central conflict between Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan. The confrontation sequences between the two characters have been repeatedly mentioned in early public responses as some of the most gripping moments in the film.

On X, Raja Shivaji's public review posts have been largely positive in early trends. One user described the film as “brilliant and outstanding cinema,” praising Riteish Deshmukh’s performance along with direction, supporting cast performances, background music, and emotional moments designed to create a strong theatrical impact.

Another viewer noted that the film stands out among recent historical and warrior dramas, particularly highlighting cinematography and editing quality.

However, not all responses were fully positive. Some users pointed out that while the film carries strong ambition and scale, it may not fully achieve the wider pan-India impact expected from a project of this genre. One comment suggested that Marathi cinema had a significant opportunity to elevate its reach at the national level with this release.

According to trade tracking platform Sacnilk, Raja Shivaji box office collection has already seen early traction, with the Marathi version registering around ₹3 crore in advance bookings for Day 1.

This figure includes blocked seats, and early estimates suggest that final advance sales could rise further, especially across Maharashtra, where occupancy levels are expected to strengthen through the opening weekend.

With growing Raja Shivaji X reactions, strong advance booking momentum, and early audience buzz, the film has entered theatres with significant attention on both its critical reception and opening day box office performance.