Riteish Deshmukh apologizes for pictures at Raigad Fort

Riteish Deshmukh is acting and producing a film which will be based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The actor and his team visited Raigad Fort, and Deshmukh posted photos on social media of him seeking blessings from the Maratha warrior, and also holding a flag. This has received much backlash from Shivaji followers and Deshmukh published a Marathi note on the same social media handle, where he did apologize and clarified he “had no intention to hurt anyone.”

Initially, Deshmukh wrote on his Twitter handle (riteishd), “Visited Raigad Fort this morning, the capital of Maratha Empire. It’s an unimaginable high to feel the presence of one of the greatest warriors born in India Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Nothing is more invigorating than bowing down and seeking his blessings.”

An excerpt of his apology note read, “We had no intention to hurt anyone by sitting there or clicking those photos. But if someone is hurt by our act, we expressed heartfelt apologies”, as according to Hindustan Times.