Actor-director Riteish Deshmukh has issued a formal clarification following a wave of social media scrutiny surrounding a recent celebratory event for his latest Marathi film, Raja Shivaji. Responding directly to a viral video from the gathering, Riteish addressed concerns regarding his attire and firmly shut down online speculation regarding his personal conduct.
What his Instagram note said
The actor explained that the private gathering was arranged purely to thank the cast and crew for their years of hard work, especially after the film received an overwhelming response from the audience.
As a devoted follower of Maharaj, the actor stated he felt a personal responsibility to clear up any misunderstandings. “Hello. To celebrate the unprecedented response given by the audience to the recently released movie Raja Shivaji, our entire team had organized a small celebration. A video of mine related to that has currently been circulating on social media. As a follower of Shivaji Maharaj (Shivpremi) and a family member to the audience, I consider it my duty to offer a clarification regarding this.”
Clarifying the Wardrobe Oversight
The primary point of contention online centered on Deshmukh wearing a T-shirt featuring the image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during the party. He humbly clarified that the wardrobe choice was an accidental oversight resulting from a grueling promotional schedule rather than a lack of reverence.
He said, “I wish to clarify humbly that behind celebrating while wearing a t-shirt featuring the image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I did not have even the slightest intention of disrespecting him. I was using that t-shirt during the promotional campaign of the movie. On that day as well, since I directly joined the event after finishing the promotional work, I missed changing the t-shirt.”
Addressing the alcohol rumours
Riteish Deshmukh also used the opportunity to tackle serious allegations circulating on social media platforms that suggested he was consuming alcohol at the function. He flatly rejected the claims as baseless, emphasizing his lifelong stance on the matter and noting that the footage was captured by an uninvited individual.
He added, “Furthermore, I also want to clarify regarding some claims being made about me on social media: I have never consumed alcohol to date, nor will I ever do so in the future. Therefore, any allegations in this context are far from the facts. Notably, the person who filmed this video was not even given an invitation to the respective event.”
However, he maintained a deeply respectful tone toward the public, adding, “Nevertheless, if anyone’s sentiments were hurt due to my actions, then as a follower of Shivaji Maharaj, I express my heartfelt regrets.”
Reaffirming his respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Riteish concluded his statemen by saying that the recent controversy has done nothing to change his lifelong admiration for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He made it clear that his loyalty and personal devotion to the historic leader remain completely intact. Reaffirming his deep connection, Riteish shared, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a symbol of faith, inspiration, and self-respect for all of us. I hold immense respect, love, and loyalty for him in my heart. This sentiment is just as strong today and will remain so forever. Jai Shivray 🙏 Yours, Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh.”
Raja Shivaji continues its record-breaking run
Raja Shivaji, directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, has become the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time. The film stars Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Amol Gupte, Jitendra Joshi, and Mahesh Manjrekar, alongside a high-octane special appearance by Salman Khan.
The film has charged past a historic ₹117.41 crore in worldwide gross collections. This film has collected ₹113.14 crore at the Indian box office alone, complemented by a steady ₹4.27 crore from overseas markets. Across 91,858 shows, the film has gone onto collect poerful ₹95.86 crore in net collections.