Bollywood and Marathi cinema star Riteish Deshmukh is currently riding high on the massive success of his ambitious project, Raja Shivaji. However, the celebrations hit a brief speed bump when a viral video from the film’s success party—attended by stars like Salman Khan—sparked a heated debate on social media.

The video showed Riteish dancing while wearing a T-shirt featuring the name of the revered Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Online critics quickly escalated the issue, with some accusing the actor of disrespect and alleging that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Taking the controversy head-on, Riteish issued a heartfelt, detailed clarification in Marathi via his official Instagram story, putting an end to the speculation with absolute transparency.

The Wardrobe Oversight: "It Was Inadvertent"

Addressing the choice of clothing, Riteish expressed deep humility and apologized to anyone whose sentiments were hurt. He explained that the T-shirt was part of the film's official promotional merchandise.

"I would like to clarify with all humility that my intention behind celebrating by wearing a T-shirt bearing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's name was in no way to disrespect him," Riteish stated. "That day, I attended the event directly from promotional campaigns. In a hurry, I simply forgot to change my T-shirt and walked into the event as I was."

"Never In My Life": Riteish Slams Alcohol Allegations

While the actor expressed regret over the clothing oversight, he took a fierce stand against the rumors claiming he was drinking alcohol at the party. Shutting down the trolls completely, Riteish revealed a personal lifelong vow.

• The Ultimate Clarification: "Regarding the claims being made about me on social media, I want to clarify that I have never consumed alcohol in my life, nor will I ever do so in the future."

• The Verdict: He dismissed the online accusations as "completely baseless and far from the truth."

Gatecrasher Behind the Viral Video

Shining a light on how the controversy started, Riteish revealed that the video was shot and leaked by an uninvited guest.

The actor emphasized that the gathering was meant to be a private, intimate gesture of gratitude. It was organized specifically to honor the cast, technicians, and behind-the-scenes crew who dedicated three and a half years of relentless hard work to bring the story of Raja Shivaji to life.