Is Raja Shivaji 2 Happening? Decoding the Ending Cliffhangers and Salman Khan’s Cameo!
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MUMBAI — Grab your popcorn and keep your saffron flags high because Riteish Deshmukh’s Raja Shivaji has not just arrived; it has conquered! After a decade-long wait and a mountain of struggles, this historical epic finally hit the screens on May 1, 2026, and the response has been nothing short of explosive.
Within just one week, the film has comfortably crossed the ₹50 crore mark at the domestic box office, proving that the audience’s love for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is eternal. But while we are all cheering for the paisa vasool moments and Sanjay Dutt’s menacing Afzal Khan, the ending has left us with more questions than a board exam!
The Long Road to Swarajya
This wasn’t just another Friday release; it was a passion project that saw directors like Ravi Jadhav and Nagraj Manjule come and go before Riteish himself took the director’s chair.
The film focuses on the early years of the legendary warrior, culminating in the iconic slaying of the Adil Shahi commander Afzal Khan. With a massive cast including Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and a bombastic cameo by Salman Khan, the scale is unlike anything we’ve seen in Marathi cinema.
However, despite the three-hour-plus runtime, fans are walking out of theatres scratching their heads about what comes next.
As per an interview with PTI, Riteish Deshmukh admitted that the film was a decade in the making and his vision shifted significantly since the project was first announced in 2016. He credited his wife and producer, Genelia D’Souza, for pushing the boundaries to make this a grand Marathi-Hindi bilingual.
While the film has earned roughly ₹52.65 crore nett in its first seven days, the big question on everyone’s mind isn’t about the money—it’s about the missing pieces of the puzzle.
The Burning Questions After the Credits Roll
Is Raja Shivaji 2 Happening?
The current mood in the fan groups is a mix of celebration and intense curiosity.
While the film delivers on the massy action sequences, it leaves several narrative threads hanging in the air like a cliffhanger we didn’t ask for.
Is this a standalone tribute, or are we looking at the birth of a massive cinematic universe that could rival the biggest franchises in the country?
1. Where is the Rest of the Trilogy?
The biggest elephant in the room is the sequel.
Early reports suggested that Raja Shivaji was initially conceived as a trilogy.
Even the final title card, which shifts to Raja Shiv Chhatrapati, feels like a setup for a much larger story.
However, Riteish recently clarified that there are currently no concrete plans for a Part 2 or Part 3. If the film was built as a trilogy, why the sudden hesitation?
Are the makers waiting for the final lifetime collection before greenlighting the next chapter, or was the ending just a one-time tribute?
2. Will Salman Khan’s Jeeva Mahala Return?
The theatre literally erupted when Salman Khan appeared as Jeeva Mahala, the loyal bodyguard who saved Shivaji Maharaj from Sayyid Banda.
It was a dhamakedar cameo, but it felt way too short. Given that Jeeva Mahala is a legendary figure in Maratha history, will Salman return for a full-fledged role in a potential sequel, or was this just a friendly gesture for his close friend Riteish?
The fans definitely want more of the Bhai-Riteish dynamic on screen.
3. How Will the Mughal Rivalry Be Handled?
While Sanjay Dutt was a powerhouse as the Adil Shahi general, the Mughal threat was only teased through Fardeen Khan’s portrayal of Shah Jahan.
The real, legendary rivalry with Aurangzeb is the meat of the Shivaji story that most fans are dying to see. If there is no sequel planned, does that mean we will never see this version of Shivaji face off against the Mughal empire?
It feels like we’ve only seen the prologue of a much bigger war.
4. The Emotional Void of Saibai and Shambhu Raje
The film takes a heavy emotional toll with the loss of key characters. We see the tragic passing of Saibai (Genelia D’Souza) due to illness and the valiant sacrifice of Shambhu Raje (Abhishek Bachchan).
These deaths are pivotal, but the film ends shortly after the victory over Afzal Khan.
We are left wondering how Shivaji Maharaj copes with these personal losses while building an empire. Will the next chapter—if it exists—delve into this emotional vulnerability, or will it stay focused on the battlefield?
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5. Will the Technical Gaps Be Bridged?
While the performances are winning hearts, some critics and fans have pointed out that the visual effects and pacing felt a bit inconsistent.
If a sequel is indeed on the cards, will the production team take this feedback into account to give the Maratha legacy the Avatar-level VFX it truly deserves?
The potential is massive, but the execution needs to be flawless to match the scale of the history being told.
Looking Toward the Future of the Empire
My take?
You don’t just make a film this big and stop at the first hurdle.
Despite the official “no concrete plans” stance, the box office numbers and the sheer fan craze suggest that the Raja Shivaji journey is just beginning.
Whether it’s a sequel or a spin-off series, the fire of Swarajya is now burning bright at the box office, and I doubt the makers will let it die down anytime soon.
Keep your eyes peeled for a surprise announcement before 2026 ends!
Gulshan Mishra – Journalist