Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab, the much-hyped horror-comedy directed by Maruthi, released on January 9, 2026, coinciding with Sankranti festivities. The film opened strongly with a massive Rs 53.75 crore net in India on day one, driven by Prabhas’ star power and fan excitement for his return to lighter genres. However, mixed-to-negative reviews criticizing the muddled screenplay, weak VFX, and lack of coherence quickly dampened momentum, leading to sharp drops in subsequent days.
By day 7 (Thursday, January 15, 2026), the film showed only marginal growth despite the holiday advantage. Early estimates from Sacnilk pegged collections at around Rs 5.5-5.65 crore net across all languages, pushing the India net total to approximately Rs 130-130.4 crore. Telugu occupancy improved in evening and night shows but remained low overall, while Hindi and other versions saw muted response. The film has struggled to regain double-digit daily figures, with its peak performance still the opening day haul.
The Raja Saab features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt as a troubling spirit grandfather, alongside Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab. The plot follows Prabhas’ character searching for family secrets in an ancestral property, blending horror, comedy, and fantasy elements. Despite lavish production values and a reported budget of Rs 350-450 crore, the film has faced backlash for inconsistent execution and failure to deliver scares or laughs effectively.
As it inches closer to the Rs 150 crore India net milestone, The Raja Saab remains far behind expectations for a Prabhas pan-India release. Worldwide gross stands lower, with overseas contributions underwhelming. The movie is already labeled a major disappointment, lagging significantly behind Prabhas’ previous hits like Kalki 2898 AD and facing challenges to recover its high costs. Competition from other Sankranti releases has further impacted its run.
With no major boosts anticipated in the coming days, trade analysts predict a tough road ahead for the film to reach breakeven. Prabhas’ fans continue to show loyalty in Telugu belts, but broader audience rejection highlights the need for stronger storytelling. The Raja Saab serves as a reminder that star power alone may not suffice in today’s competitive box office landscape.
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