The Maharashtra Files (2026): Review & Box Office

 

What is The Maharashtra Files?

 

Release Date: June 12, 2026  |  Director: Sanjivkumar Rathod  |  Cast: Mangesh Desai, Usha Nadkarni, Sayaji Shinde, Sunny Leone

 

 

The 'Files' franchise expands beyond Bollywood with The Maharashtra Files, a hard-hitting Marathi political thriller directed by Sanjivkumar Rathod. Unlike the earlier installments (The Kashmir Files, The Bengal Files) directed by Vivek Agnihotri, this standalone Marathi film tackles corruption, land acquisition, and systemic power abuse in rural Maharashtra. The trailer, launched on May 18, 2026, has already sparked conversations across social media for its unflinching portrayal of farmer struggles against a deeply entrenched system.

 

Set against a proposed 40-km four-lane national highway project, the story follows farmers fighting to protect their ancestral lands from politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen who manipulate the system for personal gain. The nearly three-minute trailer lays bare a world where inadequate compensation, suspicious deaths, and misuse of power are the norm — and ordinary people are left with no choice but to rise up together.

 

Key Facts About The Maharashtra Files

 

The Maharashtra Files is a Marathi-language political drama released in theatres on June 12, 2026. Produced and directed by Sanjivkumar Rathod, the film features a strong ensemble cast including Mangesh Desai, Usha Nadkarni, Sayaji Shinde, Nagesh Bhosale, and Veena Jamkar, with special appearances by Sunny Leone, Sapna Chaudhary, and Gautami Patil. The film's runtime is expected to be around 2 hours 15 minutes and it will be released in theatres across Maharashtra and select national multiplex chains.

 

The music and background score aim to heighten the tension of this political drama. The trailer, which runs at just under three minutes, has already created a strong buzz for its impactful dialogue and raw portrayal of systemic corruption. Notably, this is not a Vivek Agnihotri project — it is an independent Marathi film that follows the high-stakes political drama format that audiences have come to associate with the 'Files' title.

 

 

Why The Maharashtra Files Matters

 

In an era where regional cinema is gaining unprecedented national traction, The Maharashtra Files stands out as a brave and timely film. The 'Files' branding — previously associated with Hindi films directed by Vivek Agnihotri — now finds a worthy Marathi entry that tackles issues deeply relevant to Maharashtra's political landscape: land acquisition for infrastructure projects, farmer compensation, and the widening gap between the powerful and the powerless.

 

 

The trailer's most striking moment comes from a dialogue that questions why the wealthy keep getting richer while ordinary citizens struggle to survive — a sentiment that resonates far beyond Maharashtra. With strong performances from veteran actors like Usha Nadkarni and Sayaji Shinde, and the commercial draw of Sunny Leone and Sapna Chaudhary, the film balances hard-hitting content with mass appeal.

 

For audiences who followed The Kashmir Files (2022) and its sequel The Bengal Files, The Maharashtra Files offers a fresh regional perspective on similar themes of justice, governance, and corruption. Early reactions to the trailer suggest the film could be one of the most talked-about Marathi releases of 2026.

 

Critical Reception & Box Office

 

The Maharashtra Files received attention for its hard-hitting narrative centred on Janabai Rathod (played by Usha Nadkarni), a woman from the Banjara community who loses her land to a government highway project and battles corruption to secure fair compensation. Film Information's review praised the film's unflinching look at bureaucratic abuse and the struggles of ordinary citizens against an entrenched system.

 

At the box office, the film collected approximately ₹0.32 crore worldwide against a production budget of around ₹5 crore. Despite modest theatrical earnings, the film sparked conversations about land acquisition and farmer rights in Maharashtra, generating debate across social media and regional press.

 

Where to Watch The Maharashtra Files in India

 

The Maharashtra Files released in theatres across India on June 12, 2026. The film is expected to be screened at major multiplex chains including PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis across Maharashtra cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad, as well as select theatres in other states with Marathi-speaking audiences.

 

Given the film's Marathi-language release, it will have maximum screen availability in Maharashtra, where Marathi cinema has seen a remarkable resurgence in recent years. Audiences in Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad can also expect limited shows at multiplexes that regularly screen regional content.

 

 

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FAQs

 

Q: When did The Maharashtra Files release?
A: The Maharashtra Files released in theatres on June 12, 2026.

 

Q: Who is the director of The Maharashtra Files?
A: The film is directed by Sanjivkumar Rathod, who has also produced the film.

 

Q: Is The Maharashtra Files connected to The Kashmir Files?
A: No. While the title follows the 'Files' naming pattern, The Maharashtra Files is an independent Marathi film directed by Sanjivkumar Rathod, not connected to Vivek Agnihotri's franchise.

 

Q: What is the story of The Maharashtra Files?
A: The film is a hard-hitting political drama about corruption, land acquisition, and farmer exploitation centered around a proposed highway project in rural Maharashtra.

 

Q: Who are the main actors in The Maharashtra Files?
A: The film stars Mangesh Desai, Usha Nadkarni, Sayaji Shinde, Nagesh Bhosale, and Veena Jamkar, with special appearances by Sunny Leone and Sapna Chaudhary.

 

Q: Which cinemas showed The Maharashtra Files?
A: The film released at PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis multiplexes across Maharashtra and select screens nationwide.

 

Q: Where can I watch The Maharashtra Files now?
A: The Maharashtra Files has completed its theatrical run. An OTT release is expected soon. For other movies currently in theatres, check magicpin for the best ticket deals.

 

Find cinemas near you: Mumbai | Pune | Nagpur | Delhi | Bangalore.