Riteish Vilasrao Deshmukh received the Maharashtra Gaurav Award at the Zee 24 Taas Maharashtra Gaurav Awards 2026 on May 26, presented by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The award recognized his contributions to Indian cinema across both the Hindi and Marathi film industries, and his efforts to bring Maharashtra’s culture and history to the screen. The event was also attended by several prominent ministers and commissioners.

Riteish Deshmukh receives honour from CM Devendra Fadnavis for promoting Maharashtra's culture and heritage on his father's birth anniversary

Riteish Deshmukh receives honour from CM Devendra Fadnavis for promoting Maharashtra’s culture and heritage on his father’s birth anniversary

The occasion held personal significance as May 26 marks the birth anniversary of his late father, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Raja Shivaji, Riteish’s second directorial venture after Ved (2022), is currently in theatres. The film chronicles the early life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and has become the first Marathi film to cross Rs. 100 crores at the national box office, making it the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, surpassing Sairat.

The film features a cast from both Hindi and Marathi cinema, including Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, Genelia Deshmukh, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Mahesh Manjrekar, and Sachin Khedekar. Riteish Deshmukh plays the titular role of the young Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Produced by Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios and Genelia Deshmukh under the Mumbai Film Company banner, Raja Shivaji was released worldwide on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

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