'The Pride of Bharat' brings in international action team:'Game of Thrones' fame Mark Henson to design action sequences

Filmmaker Sandeep Singh is mounting his ambitious historical epic, The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, on a grand scale. Starring Rishab Shetty in the lead role, the film has now brought in an international action team to create large-scale battle sequences and high-octane action scenes. Hollywood action expert to design battle sequences To recreate the film's historic battles, the makers have signed Mark Henson, an internationally acclaimed action designer known for his work on Game of Thrones, Vikings, The Witcher, and the Oscar-winning film Gravity. He will oversee the film's action choreography, with a focus on delivering realistic and visually striking combat scenes. Two more Hollywood stunt specialists join the team The production has also added two experienced Hollywood stunt professionals to its action unit. Vlad Rimburg, whose credits include The Fate of the Furious, Bloodshot, and Lucifer, has joined the project alongside Craig Macrae, known for Troy: Fall of a City. According to the makers, the trio will create some of the biggest and most ambitious war sequences ever seen in an Indian historical film. Vivek Oberoi to play Aurangzeb Made on an estimated budget of ₹500 crore, The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be released in two parts. Besides Rishab Shetty, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Vivek Oberoi, and Shefali Shah in key roles. Shefali Shah will portray Rajmata Jijabai, the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, while Vivek Oberoi will essay the role of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Arjun Rampal is set to play the film's primary antagonist. The makers say every character has been designed with historical authenticity while being presented on a cinematic scale. Filming to take place across Maharashtra's historic forts A major portion of the film will be shot at historic forts and locations across Maharashtra, many of which are closely associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the rise of the Maratha Empire. The team aims to recreate the forts, battlefields, and historical setting as authentically as possible. The film is expected to hit theatres on January 21, 2027, and will be released in Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi, targeting both Indian and international audiences. Over 60 films and shows have portrayed Shivaji Maharaj Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire, has inspired filmmakers for decades. More than 60 films and television projects based on his life have been produced over the years, beginning with the silent film Sinhagad in 1923. With The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the makers aim to present his legacy on a scale never seen before.