Salman Khan's cameo in Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji sparks online frenzy. Watch

Salman Khan appears as Jiva Mahala in Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji, and his cameo has gone viral online. The brief sword-wielding sequence and standout dialogue have become an early talking point as the film opens in cinemas.

In Short

• Viral stills show Khan in saffron attire, tilak and a prominent moustache
• His character brandishes a sword and delivers a striking dialogue
• Fans on X praised the visual impact and predicted loud theatre reactions

Salman Khan’s cameo in Riteish Deshmukh’s historical film Raja Shivaji has gone viral as the film arrives in cinemas on May 1. The film marks another collaboration between Deshmukh and Khan, with the latter appearing in a brief but pivotal role that has already drawn attention online.

Images from the film, which have been widely shared on X, show Khan in a saffron kurta and matching turban. He is also seen with a moustache, a tilak on his forehead and minimal jewellery. In a high-energy sequence set to its own soundtrack, his character is shown holding a sword to a rival’s neck before saying, “Shivaji nahi; Shivaji Raj mhanaycha,” a moment that, according to the report, sent theatres into a frenzy.

Fans reacted strongly to the scene on social media. One user wrote, “Man, just saw the cameo... what a powerful visual! What a look - pure iconic stuff by Salman Khan as Jiva Mahala in #RajaShivaji. Absolutely loved it. Theatres are going to explode with whistles and claps!”

Another wrote, “Riteish has never disappointed - every time he brings Bhai for a cameo, it turns into a moment. Just saw this one... what a powerful visual! What a look - pure iconic aura by Salman Khan as Jiva Mahala in #RajaShivaji. This isn’t just a cameo... it’s a full-on theatre celebration - whistles, claps, madness guaranteed!”

Khan plays Jiva Mahala, a courageous and loyal warrior and one of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s most trusted aides. Deshmukh had earlier spoken about how Khan became part of the film. He said, “He asked me when I was starting to shoot the movie. I said, ‘It’s starting this month.’ He said, ‘Which role am I playing?’” Deshmukh added, “He said, ‘No, no, no... you can’t make the film without me, I have to be in it.’ Then there was a role... and Salman Khan became part of the film.”

The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Boman Irani, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh, among others. The historical drama centres on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with Khan’s role adding to the attention around the release.

As Raja Shivaji hits cinemas today, Salman Khan’s short appearance has emerged as one of the early talking points around the film. It is releasing alongside The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Aamir Khan-backed Ek Din.

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