Shri Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj was born on January 7, 1948 at Mumbai. He studied at the Bishop Cotton School, Bangalore and later on graduated from the Indore Christian College in 1967 with History, Economics and English literature.

On March 9th, 1970, he tied the knot with Yadnaseniraje, hailing from the Pawar family of Mangsuli. Their firstborn, Sambhaji, was born in 1971, followed by their younger son, Maloji, in 1976. Sambhaji pursued an MBA and is now happily married to Sanyogeetaraje, with whom he shares a son named Shahaji. Maloji earned his B.A. degree and exchanged vows with Madhurimaraje, with whom he has a daughter and a son named Yashashwini and Yashraj, respectively. Yashashwini completed her studies at Regent’s University, London, and is presently pursuing further education at the University of Columbia, New York, USA. Sambhaji received a nomination to the Rajyasabha, while Maloji served as the representative for Kolhapur in the Vidhansabha of Maharashtra.