Raja Shivaji Runtime: 3 Hours 15 Minutes and a CBFC Cut — What It Means Before May 1 [Updated]

"Raja Shivaji is 3 hours 15 minutes — longer than Animal, longer than Border 2 — and the CBFC has already asked for one visual change. With five days to release, here's everything the runtime tells you about Riteish Deshmukh's creative ambition."

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

Bollywood Hungama exclusively confirmed that Raja Shivaji, releasing May 1, 2026, has a runtime of 3 hours and 15 minutes. This places it in the company of recent long-format blockbusters Animal, Pushpa 2, Dhurandhar (the original), and Border 2. The CBFC has also required the replacement of a child violence visual, though the film retains its certification. Directed and starring Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji, the epic also features Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, and Vidya Balan.

THE INSIDER TAKE

A 3:15 runtime five days before release is either a statement of artistic confidence or a pre-opening liability, depending entirely on word of mouth. Animal (3:21) and Pushpa 2 (3:20) made that runtime work because audiences stayed riveted. The CBFC modification for child violence is a yellow flag, not a red one — it signals the film leans into historical darkness. The larger risk is that Riteish is simultaneously the director, the lead actor, and the producer. When one person holds all three chairs, no one pushes back on the cut

WHY THIS MATTERS

Raja Shivaji has a Labour Day holiday opening on May 1 and the advantage of Bhooth Bangla already fading. If it opens strongly, it becomes the dominant theatrical force heading into the summer corridor. Sanjay Dutt as Afzal Khan in a film directed by Riteish Deshmukh — that's an unconventional creative axis that the industry is watching closely. A hit here legitimises Riteish as a director of scale, not just a comedic performer.

WHAT FANS ARE MISSING

The CBFC modification for child violence in a historical war epic is actually a clue about the film's content — it suggests a battle sequence depicted with more unflinching realism than standard A-certificate Bollywood fare. That specificity is what separates a sanitised biopic from a visceral historical drama.

■ QUICK FACTS

• Runtime: 3 hours 15 minutes

• Release Date: May 1, 2026 (Labour Day)

• Director & Lead: Riteish Deshmukh (as Chhatrapati Shivaji)

• Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Genelia Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan

• CBFC Status: Certified with one visual modification

• Platform: Theatrical only (OTT TBA) — JioHotstar expected (India) / JioHotstar global app (International)

FANS ALSO ASKED

Q: How long is Raja Shivaji?

A: Raja Shivaji has a confirmed runtime of 3 hours and 15 minutes, placing it among the longest Hindi films of recent years alongside Animal and Pushpa 2.

Q: What did the CBFC change in Raja Shivaji?

A: The CBFC required the replacement of a child violence visual in the film. The film retains its certification and releases theatrically on May 1, 2026.

Q: Who plays Afzal Khan in Raja Shivaji?

A: Sanjay Dutt plays Afzal Khan, the historical antagonist who famously met Chhatrapati Shivaji at Pratapgad in 1659. His casting is considered one of the film's major draws.

Q: When does Raja Shivaji release? A: Raja Shivaji releases on May 1, 2026, timed to the Labour Day holiday for maximum opening weekend footfall