The Bombay High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to ban the theatrical release of a Marathi-Hindi bilingual film. Raja ShivajiClearing the way for the film’s scheduled release on May 1, 2026. The petition objected to the removal of the honorific “Chhatrapati” from the film’s title, claiming it was derogatory to the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Bombay High Court rejects PIL seeking change in title of Raja Shivaji
The petition was filed by NGO Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Foundation, which argued that dropping the title “Chhatrapati” has hurt the sentiments of the followers of the iconic Maratha ruler. The petitioner requested the court to direct the producers to change the name of the film Chhatrapati Raja Shivaji And also demanded a ban on the release, screening and public screening of the film until changes are made.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Shri Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad dismissed the petition, saying the case did not involve any genuine public matter. The court also took note of the timing of the petition, noting that it was filed only two days before the release of the film.
According to the bench there was nothing in the title Raja Shivaji Which may be considered derogatory or insulting to the position of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The judges said the petition appeared to be motivated rather than filed in genuine public interest.
The defendants in the case include the Union of India, the State of Maharashtra, the Central Board of Film Certification, actor-director Riteish Deshmukh, producers Jyoti Deshpande, Genelia Deshmukh and Mumbai Film Company Pvt. Ltd.
During the hearing, the lawyer representing the producers of the film informed the court that the story focuses on the life of Shivaji Maharaj before his coronation in 1674, when he officially received the title of “Chhatrapati”. It was also said that a disclaimer explaining this context has already been included in the film and approved by the CBFC.
The makers further said that the project was publicly announced in February 2024, while its release date was announced in 2025, which means that the title was in the public domain for a long time.
In its concluding remarks, the High Court said that PIL is meant to raise genuine public concerns, and should not be misused for last-minute objections.
