In what is being hailed as one of the most high-profile casting coups of the year, Bollywood veteran Arjun Rampal has officially signed on to join Rishab Shetty in the upcoming historical magnum opus, The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for Rampal, whose recent portrayal of Major Iqbal in the box-office juggernaut Dhurandhar: The Revenge has revitalized his standing as a powerhouse performer. In this new venture, Rampal is set to step into the shoes of a primary antagonist, setting the stage for an intense onscreen face-off with the Kantara star, Rishab Shetty, who portrays the legendary Maratha warrior king.
A Clash of Titans
Directed by Sandeep Singh, The Pride of Bharat aims to be a definitive cinematic tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. While Shetty’s transformation into the iconic ruler has already sparked significant interest across India, the addition of Rampal adds a new layer of gravitas to the production.
Sources close to the project suggest that Rampal’s role is “formidable and layered,” designed to provide a worthy challenge to the protagonist’s journey. The actor, known for his ability to bring a sleek yet menacing energy to negative roles—as seen in Ra.One and Om Shanti Om—is reportedly undergoing intensive physical training and dialect coaching to fit the 17th-century setting.
A Star-Studded Technical Crew
The film isn’t just boasting a heavy-hitting cast; the talent behind the camera is equally impressive.
Direction: Sandeep Singh who is marking his theatrical directorial debut.
Cast: Alongside Shetty and Rampal, the film stars Shefali Shah as Rajmata Jijabai and Zanai Bhosle as Maharani Sai Bhosale.
Music: A grand score composed by Pritam.
Cinematography: Visuals captured by the acclaimed Ravi Varman.
Release Strategy and Production
Set to begin production in the second half of 2026, the film is being mounted on a massive scale with global production values. The makers have locked in a prime release window, targeting January 21, 2027, just ahead of the Republic Day weekend. As a multilingual project, it will be released in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and English, aiming for a truly pan-India and international reach.
For Arjun Rampal, this project adds to an increasingly busy 2026-27 slate, which includes Imtiaz Ali’s O Saathi Re and the long-awaited Battle of Bhima Koregaon. For fans of historical dramas, the prospect of seeing Shetty and Rampal share the screen in a story of this magnitude is nothing short of a cinematic event. To know such latest
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