Who Was Jiva Mahale? Salman Khan To Play Maratha Warrior And Chhatrapati Shivaji's Bodyguard In Raja Shivaji

Riteish Deshmukh is all set for the release of his upcoming historical drama movie, Raja Shivaji. On Monday, the actor confirmed that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan plays a pivotal role in the film. He is expected to take on the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's loyal bodyguard, Jiva Mahale. Here is everything you need to know about the legendary Maratha warrior:

Who was Jiva Mahale?

Jeeva Mahala, alternatively known as Jiva Mahale, remains one of the most revered figures in 17th-century Maratha history, celebrated as an epitome of loyalty and martial prowess. As a trusted personal bodyguard to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, his historical significance is forever anchored to the legendary encounter at the Battle of Pratapgad in 1659.

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Jiva Mahale saved Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during Battle of Pratapgarh

It happened during the high-stakes meeting between Shivaji and the Bijapuri general Afzal Khan. In an act of deception, Khan attempted to assassinate the Maratha king, however, the immediate threat shifted to Khan’s highly skilled swordsman, Sayyed Banda. Just when Sayyed was about to deliver a fatal blow to Shivaji, Mahale intervened and neutralised the assailant with his absolute mastery of Dandpatta.

What is Dandpatta? Dandpatta (also known as Pata or gauntlet-sword). He is most renowned for using this weapon to save Shivaji Maharaj's life during the Battle of Pratapgad in 1659. This led to the Marathi idiom: "Hota Jiva Mhanun Vachala Shiva" ("Because there was Jiva, Shiva lived"). This phrase continues to resonate through generations, immortalising a warrior whose split-second intervention altered the course of Indian history and secured the future of the Maratha Empire.

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(Image: X/@tathvamasi6)

Raja Shivaji is set to release on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu, a multilingual release that signals the film's ambitions well beyond a single audience or demographic. If the trailer is anything to go by, the brightest chapter of history is about to be retold very soon. Other than Salman Khan, Raja Shivaji features an ensemble cast led by Riteish Deshmukh in the title role, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh.