Bhagyashree is stepping into one of the most emotionally layered roles of her career with ‘Raja Shivaji’, where she portrays Rajmata Jijabai, the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The actress recently opened up about what convinced her to instantly become part of Riteish Deshmukh’s ambitious historical drama and why the story deeply moved her. According to Bhagyashree, it was not just another film offer but a project rooted in history, emotion and the spirit of Swaraj.
Why didn’t Bhagyashree need time to say yes to ‘Raja Shivaji’?
Recalling her first interaction with Riteish about the film, Bhagyashree revealed to Variety India that she had already made up her mind even before hearing the complete narration. She shared, “‘Raja Shivaji’ is not just a film. It’s special for all of us because we are so rooted in our history. In school history books, we learned about the wars fought by Maratha warriors.”
Talking about Riteish approaching her for the role, she added, “Riteish called me and said he is making a film based on Shivaji Maharaj and that he wanted to meet me. The moment he walked in the door, I said, ‘Whatever it is, it’s yes.’” However, Riteish still insisted on narrating the story in detail.“He insisted that I listen to the subject. So he sat down to narrate two scenes, but the intensity was so great that I couldn’t stop listening and he couldn’t stop narrating. We just sat there for four hours,” she recalled.
Why did the story of Shivaji Maharaj resonate with Bhagyashree?
Bhagyashree explained that the historical importance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj made the project emotionally significant for her. “Shivaji Raje is such a historic person in Indian history, that without him, it wouldn’t have been possible for us to stand up to the Mughals. He’s the one who embodied what Swaraj stood for and that is relevant even today,” she said. The actress believes the film’s emotional core lies in its understanding of freedom, sacrifice and family rather than just warfare.For Bhagyashree, portraying Rajmata Jijabai was not just about wearing historical costumes or delivering dramatic scenes. She viewed the role as an opportunity to represent the strength and wisdom of women from that era. Explaining what drew her towards the character, she said, “Women in those times, especially Maharashtrian women, held a status nearly equal to men. They were involved in the politics and everything happening around them. Rajmata Jijabai was the embodiment of that.” She further added that modern women can still relate to Jijabai’s resilience and balance between family and responsibility.“Today’s women can look up to her as someone who can manage her household as well as matters of the state. When we look at working women managing both roles, it doesn’t make you less of a woman, nor does it make you more of a man. It just brings out the strength of what a woman is capable of doing,” Bhagyashree shared.
‘Raja Shivaji’ focuses more on emotions than war
While many historical dramas rely heavily on large-scale battles and action sequences, Bhagyashree revealed that Riteish wanted ‘Raja Shivaji’ to explore a more intimate and emotional perspective. “That’s exactly what Riteish had said. He told me, ‘I’m not making a war film or an action film. I’m making a film about a man who wanted his family to taste independence.’ That’s such a beautiful thought,” she revealed. The actress also reflected on how people today celebrate independence without always understanding its deeper meaning and sacrifice.
A role that stayed with Bhagyashree beyond the set
The actress admitted that playing Rajmata Jijabai gave her a deeper understanding of sacrifice, courage and motherhood. Comparing the emotions in the film to the sacrifices made by soldiers’ families even today, she concluded, “This also happens even today when jawans have lost their lives. I think that really stayed with me.”With ‘Raja Shivaji’, Bhagyashree believes audiences will witness not just a historical spectacle, but also a deeply human story about family, strength and the meaning of freedom.
