Exclusive Interview With Director Ajit Shirole

Q.1 What inspired you to make a film on Chatrapati Sambhaji Raje?

A. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was very skilled, Intelligent and sharp right from a very young age of 14. He knew many languages and has written 4 granths.

We all have heard about him but that’s not all. There is a lot more about him which our country still doesn’t know.

I have been inspired from Sambhaji Raje from a very young age. I have been planning and working on this project for more than a decade now and have read so many books and contents about the same.

My main motive of this decade long dream project is to highlight those hidden facts about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje.

Q.2 Can you tell us something about this film and how you started working for this project?

A. Shivputra Sambhaji is a film that I have been working on for more than a decade now. This project is my life-long dream project and for this I have gathered information from various sources like Kadambari, books and Bakhar.

I had to direct 13 films in the past to be ready for this project as a director. I am planning to release this film on a very large scale and it will be a mega budget movie.

This film will be a multi-lingual film and will be released in four languages that is Marathi, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. This will also be my first leap from Marathi cinema to Hindi cinema.

Q3. Have you started the film’s shoot?

No, but I myself am waiting eagerly to start the shooting of the film. The script is ready and will be shot at a grandeur scale.

I am yet to decide from which location I’ll start but I am planning to shoot in locations like Raigad and Sangameshwar which have a significance in the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje

Q4. Have you finalized anyone for Sambhaji Raje’s role?

A. Yes, I have a few actors in my mind. Me and my team are currently in talks for finalizing the actors. I will reveal all the details about the cast of my film very soon.

Q.5  If you got a chance to make a film on any of legendary fighter’s other than Sambhaji Raje, who would you choose?

A. Our country has a number of legendary rulers and fighter’s and I plan on making movies on them all.

But like I said, I have given 10 years of my life for this dream project so I don’t think I’ll be able to mention any other project other than Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje for now. But will surely tell you soon who’s next for me.

Q.6 Do you feel Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is not honoured much and has been forgotten?

A. Yes, I feel Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje’s struggle in the journey of swarajya is long forgotten now.

His skills and intelligence in writing 4 granths and knowing many languages right from a small age of 12, his Sharpness in war and knowledge about guerrilla warfare tactics, being undefeated in wars his entire life etc. all is forgotten and not honored much.

Hence, the major reason I am making a film on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje’s Life is to inspire & acknowledge the youth about how Sambhaji Raje ruled and lived and what his beliefs were.

Q.7  Anything you would like to share about the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the entertainment industry?

A. Yes, I agree that the entertainment industry has been impacted and affected a lot due to this ongoing pandemic but that doesn’t mean that we stop living and stop all the work and everything, no.

Such bad times do come like in past plague, chicken pox when there was no treatment for it, Swine flu etc. all have come and gone.

This bad time will also go. Till then we all have to stay strong, be kind, help each other and have to defeat this pandemic together.

Q.8 Did you personally face any issues due to this pandemic?

A. Like everyone in this industry my work too was affected and was bought to a standstill. My work stopped but creativity did not, I am constantly doing a research and creating a blueprint of how I want this project of mine to be.

I am doing everything that is possible from my home for this project and hope to start the shoot soon.

Q.9 So, what’s next in list for you?

A. Like I have said before, I have many concepts and idea’s ready but currently this project was my near future goal for which I am working really hard. I will speak about the other projects soon, once Shivputra Sambhaji is released