Salman Khan has set social media ablaze with his cameo in the historical epic, ‘Raja Shivaji’. Videos from cinema halls showing audiences erupting into loud cheers and hoots as the superstar makes his on-screen entry have gone viral.While his role was kept a secret for several months, fans were abuzz with the actor playing the role of Jiva Mahal in the Riteish Deshmukh starrer. Clips shared across fan handles capture the moment Khan appears in a striking look, wearing an orange turban and kurta, wielding a Maratha sword, alongside Riteish, who plays Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the film.The high-energy sequence, accompanied with its own soundtrack, sees Khan’s character holding his sword to a rival’s neck before delivering the powerful line, “Shivaji nai; Shivaji Raj mhanaycha,” which instantly sent the theater into a frenzy.Speaking about how the cameo came together, Riteish Deshmukh had earlier revealed that the superstar himself insisted on being part of the project. “I didn’t go to him in this film. We were together in New Year’s. He asked me when I was starting to shoot the movie. I said, ‘It’s starting in this month.’ He said, ‘Which role am I playing’,” Deshmukh shared.When informed that no role had been planned for him, Khan reportedly responded, “No, no, no, you can’t make the film without me, I have to be in it.” Deshmukh added, “That sense of warmth and belonging, that emotion… I was thinking that I hadn’t really thought it through yet… but he said, ‘I should have a role in the film.’ Then there was a role… and Salman Khan is also a part of this film.”‘Raja Shivaji’, directed by Deshmukh, brings to life the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film has opened to strong audience interest, with box office reports indicating that the film could just be headed for a huge Rs 10 crore haul at the box office.
