Raja Shivaji Faces Five-Way Box Office Clash; ‘Bhoot Bangla’ Maintains Strong Lead

Despite a powerful start, Riteish Deshmukh’s historical epic Raja Shivaji is navigating a crowded marketplace as it enters its first week. The film is currently contending with four major competitors that continue to draw significant footfalls, leading to a noticeable split in audience attention. While the Maratha biopic has crossed major milestones, the sustained performance of holdover hits from March and April is challenging its dominance, particularly in the Hindi belt.

According to latest box office reports, Raja Shivaji earned ₹12 crore on Sunday, May 3, 2026. This was driven by a strong ₹7.75 crore from the Marathi version and ₹4.25 crore from the Hindi dub. While these are solid numbers, the film faced stiff competition from Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy Bhoot Bangla, which surprisingly outpaced Raja Shivaji on Sunday by earning ₹5.50 crore on its 17th day. Akshay’s film has now reached a massive domestic total of ₹142.50 crore, proving to be a major roadblock for new releases.

The competitive landscape for Raja Shivaji is further complicated by a variety of genres currently playing in theaters:

• Bhoot Bangla: Akshay Kumar’s hit continues its dream run, crossing ₹225 crore worldwide and remaining the top choice for family audiences.

• The Devil Wears Prada 2: The Hollywood sequel has defied expectations in India, earning ₹3.85 crore on Sunday for a total of ₹13.35 crore in just three days.

• Michael: The Michael Jackson biopic remains a steady performer, consistently drawing fans of the pop icon.

• Dhurandhar 2: Ranveer Singh’s actioner, which has already surpassed records set by Baahubali 2, continues to churn out revenue even weeks after its release.

So far, Raja Shivaji has amassed a total domestic collection of ₹33.90 crore (net), with some estimates placing the cumulative figure closer to ₹40.34 crore when including all territories. While the film’s opening of ₹11.35 crore was historic for Marathi cinema, the mixed critical reception and the “Akshay Kumar factor” have slowed its momentum in the Hindi market.

Trade analysts suggest that the coming weekdays will be crucial for the film. To sustain its high-budget recovery, Raja Shivaji will need to maintain a strong grip on its core Maharashtra audience while hoping for a boost in Hindi-speaking circuits. With five major films currently vying for screens, the battle for box office supremacy is proving to be a high-stakes encounter for Riteish Deshmukh’s “dream project.”