Prabhas' highly anticipated horror-comedy The Raja Saab has stormed the Indian box office on its opening day, January 9, 2026, dethroning Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar after its remarkable 35-day reign as the number one film in the country. According to early trade estimates, The Raja Saab crossed the ₹6 crore net mark even before 10 a.m. on Friday, solely from paid previews on Thursday evening and morning shows on release day. This figure alone surpassed Dhurandhar's full-day collection of ₹4.25 crore net on its 35th Thursday, effectively handing the top spot to Prabhas' film in record time.

The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi, marks Prabhas' return to the big screen after a two-year gap and his first venture into the horror-comedy genre. The film, which also features Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab, has been released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Trade pundits are projecting a massive opening day total, with domestic earnings expected to soar past the ₹60-crore mark by the end of Friday. The film's momentum received an additional boost when Vijay's Jana Nayagan was postponed, freeing up around 250 extra screens in Tamil Nadu and giving The Raja Saab a clearer run in the Tamil market.

Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, had enjoyed an extraordinary five-week run, consistently holding off new releases and maintaining strong daily collections. However, the sheer star power of Prabhas and the festive appeal of The Raja Saab ahead of the Sankranti weekend proved too formidable, ending Dhurandhar's dominance before most morning shows had even concluded.

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While The Raja Saab is currently the undisputed number one film at the Indian box office, its reign may be short-lived. Jana Nayagan finally received its CBFC certification on Friday morning, clearing the path for its release. Industry sources indicate the film is likely to arrive in theaters before or on Pongal (Wednesday), potentially reclaiming the top spot during the festival period. Until then, Prabhas' latest family entertainer is set to dominate screens nationwide.

The Raja Saab has opened to packed houses and enthusiastic early reviews, signaling a strong start for the actor in a new genre. The film's performance is being closely watched as a key indicator of Prabhas' continued box-office dominance following the success of the Baahubali and Salaar franchises.

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