Abhishek Bachchan Opens Up On Doing Raja Shivaji Without Focusing On Money; Says, “It Was Very Sacred”

Abhishek Bachchan says actors willingly waive fees for films they believe in, calling cinema an 'emotional transaction' rather than business. Read on.

Abhishek Bachchan Opens Up On Doing Raja Shivaji Without Focusing On Money

Earlier, Riteish Deshmukh had revealed that several actors, including Salman Khan, Vidya Balan and Abhishek Bachchan, either reduced or waived their fees for the film. According to Riteish, the actors came on board out of respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and because of their close personal bond with him.

Now, speaking to News18, Abhishek reacted to reports claiming actors charged huge amounts for the film. “In today’s day and age, there are all these reels where people talk about facts and figures,” he said. Busting the myth further, he added, “The media loves to talk about an actor or an actress charging so much money and demanding for these many vans but at the end of the day, it’s an art form that starts from the heart. We’ve no problems waiving anything off if we believe in something. It’s not a transaction. It’s an emotional transaction. You’ve to be inspired. That’s how art starts.”

The actor also praised Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh for approaching the film with passion rather than focusing only on business calculations. “At a time where there’s so much mathematics attached to films, they’ve affirmed that not everything is about figures. It was about their belief in wanting to do something larger than all of us. They never approached it as a project. It was very sacred to them,” he shared.

Abhishek further highlighted the scale and discipline involved in making the film. According to him, the production stood out because of the professionalism and atmosphere maintained on set. “It was a very challenging film to be made. The scale is something that Marathi cinema hasn’t seen before and to achieve that seamlessly and make sure that the unit is happy, safe and inspired… kudos to them, really! I don’t know anybody who had any complaints,” he remarked.

Abhishek Bachchan On His On-Screen Marathi Debut

Interestingly, Abhishek revealed that he agreed to join the film without even reading the script because of his close bond with Riteish and Genelia.“I don’t look upon them differently to my family and me. They’re family to me,” he said. “I’ve known them for a very, very long time. They’re some of the sweetest and most down-to-earth people you’ll ever come across. They’re very dependable friends to me and my family.”

The actor also joked about their friendship, adding, “In a way, Mumbai Film Company is mine. They’ll be sharing the profits (laughs).”

While Abhishek had received Marathi film offers earlier as well, Raja Shivaji became his first onscreen Marathi-speaking role. Reflecting on the experience, he admitted feeling slightly nervous initially. “It was the first time I was speaking Marathi onscreen. Being born and brought up in Mumbai, you’re acquainted with it but if you’re doing something for the first time, there’s always a bit of trepidation. But with Riteish being there, I knew he would take care of it,” he said.

Abhishek Bachchan In Raja Shivaji

Abhishek Bachchan plays a pivotal role as Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale (elder brother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His appearance in the film generated strong reactions online, especially because it marked his first Marathi-language project. Many viewers praised his restrained performance, screen presence, and dialogue delivery, while critics noted that his portrayal added intensity to key confrontational moments in the film. The actor’s Marathi diction also received appreciation from audiences.

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Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.