The Raja Saab: Movie Review and Box Office Collection Live Updates: Prabhas' film opens strong at the domestic market, outpaces Dhurandhar

Even with criticism, the numbers stayed strong. The Raja Saab crossed the opening day collection of 2025’s biggest opener Chhaava, which earned Rs 31 crore on day one. The film also beat the opening of the first Baahubali, which had earned Rs 5.15 crore on its first day.

As per advance booking data, the film sold around 5.62 lakh tickets in India. This brought in Rs 28.09 crore before release. Telugu shows had good response with 57.16% occupancy. Hindi shows saw low interest with 15.63% occupancy. Tamil version had 22.69% occupancy across limited shows.

The Raja Saab created heavy buzz before release. This was Prabhas’ first horror film. Posters and promos made fans curious. Many people came to theatres just to see him in a new style. But once the film released, reactions were not fully positive.

Some viewers said Prabhas was the only strong part of the film. Others said the story did not work. One X user wrote, “The Raja Saab was a below average movie with weak VFX. Prabhas clearly tries his best, but the material doesn’t support him.” Another user wrote, “By the end, you’ll scratch your head and think, what is this 1953 circus actually about?”

Telugu cinema started 2026 with loud noise at the box office. Prabhas’ new film The Raja Saab released in theatres on January 9 and took a strong opening. On the very first day, the film earned around Rs 54.4 crore in India. This includes regular shows on Friday and special shows held on Thursday night in states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.

An Instagram user shared the video and expressed shock over what he saw. In the clip, the restaurant management can be seen playing The Raja Saab openly inside the restaurant. The user pointed out that the print was pirated and said that showing it in public is illegal and can attract serious charges.

The incident reportedly took place at a restaurant in Dublin city, Ohio. The video spread fast on social media. Many users were surprised to see such an act happening so openly, especially in a country like the USA where copyright laws are very strict.

Prabhas starrer The Raja Saab was released worldwide yesterday. The film had already seen premiere shows a day earlier in the USA and in some parts of the Telugu states. While fans were celebrating the release, a shocking incident came to light from the United States.

A video started circulating online showing a North Indian restaurant in Ohio playing The Raja Saab on their television. What shocked many was that the film being played was a pirated version. This happened just a day after the movie’s theatrical release.

The Raja Saab is directed by Maruthi and features Prabhas in the lead role. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Boman Irani, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab. ETimes review for the film reads, "Prabhas appears comfortable in the role, embracing a lighter, flamboyant persona with relaxed confidence. His screen presence, timing and easy charm remain the film’s biggest draw, and fans are likely to enjoy watching him inhabit a space designed to foreground swagger over emotional intensity. That said, the film’s frequent pauses to spotlight star moments occasionally come at the cost of narrative momentum, making certain portions feel drawn out rather than impactful."

In Hindi regions, the opening was slower when compared to Telugu. Hindi occupancy stood at 15.63 percent overall. Morning shows were low at 7.47 percent but slowly improved. Afternoon shows reached 15.46 percent. Evening shows touched 18.26 percent. Night shows went up to 21.34 percent. Tamil regions showed a better trend. Tamil occupancy was 22.61 percent overall. Morning shows started at 19.25 percent and night shows climbed close to 28 percent. This shows that word of mouth helped the film as the day progressed.

The Raja Saab performed best in Telugu states on its first day. The overall Telugu occupancy was a strong 57.16 percent. Morning shows opened at 50.92 percent. Afternoon shows stayed steady at 50.82 percent. Evening shows went higher at 57.70 percent. Night shows were the best with 69.20 percent occupancy. These numbers clearly show that the film connected well with the core audience and gained more strength as the day moved forward.

Prabhas’s new film The Raja Saab has started its box office run on a very strong note. The horror comedy released in theatres on January 9, 2026, and fans came in big numbers from the very first day. The film collected around Rs 45.00 crore India net on Day 1 from all languages. Along with paid previews that earned Rs 9.15 crore on Thursday, the total opening reached Rs 54.15 crore.

Prabhas’ latest release, The Raja Saab, continues to dominate conversations on social media, staying firmly in the spotlight days after its theatrical debut. Adding to the buzz, the film’s digital streaming rights have reportedly been acquired by Jio Hotstar.

According to industry chatter, The Raja Saab is expected to begin streaming by the end of February 2026, although the makers are yet to officially confirm the OTT premiere date. Directed by Maruthi, the film’s post-theatrical release is being keenly awaited by fans who are tracking its journey closely across platforms.

Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab is expected to put up an impressive opening at the box office, having earned around Rs 45 crore net in India across all languages on its first day. The solid start is particularly noteworthy as the film reportedly outperformed Dhurandhar during the morning shows.

Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar had dominated the Indian box office for the past five weeks, holding on to the top spot since its release. However, The Raja Saab managed to break that streak on Day 1 itself, signalling strong audience interest and a promising run ahead.

Prabhas's much-awaited film 'The Raja Saab' has finally opened in theatres across the country, leaving fans joyous. Turning it into a festive celebration, fans appeared highly excited to catch the actor on the big screen.

While multiple cinema halls witnessed a significant crowd from the early hours of the morning, with fans arriving to catch the first shows of 'The Raja Saab', Hyderabad's Sandhya theatre also saw an unmatched energy among the crowd.

Visuals from outside the cinema hall show a towering cut-out of Prabhas adorned with flower garlands. Fans were also seen carrying banners and posters of 'The Raja Saab', while others were dressed in customised t-shirts bearing the actor's photos.

One of the elated fans told ANI, "The movie is a blockbuster. He is a great actor. The movie has the potential to gross from Rs 500 Cr to 1000 Cr. We are all very excited about the release of this movie."

Others already declared the film a "superhit" and "blockbuster".

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt performed a special puja at the revered Pashupatinath Temple on Friday in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The actor arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday evening to attend a casino inauguration, marking his visit to Nepal amid considerable public interest. His visit had generated excitement among fans across age groups, reflecting his enduring popularity in Nepal.

Several pictures from the site show the actor exiting the temple amid heavy security and a massive crowd of fans, who gathered to catch a glimpse of Dutt. For the visit, Sanjay Dutt was seen dressed in a simple white outfit as he emerged from the temple with prayer malas and a traditional 'angvastra' draped around him.

Sanjay Dutt, known for his long and influential career in Bollywood, has appeared in numerous successful films, earning a strong fan following in Nepal as well.

The temple visit comes at a time when Sanjay Dutt has been enjoying back-to-back releases in theatres, including 'Dhurandhar' and 'The Raja Saab'.

Seeking to target the huge fan base that actor Prabhas has in Japan, the makers of director Maruthi's horror comedy 'The Raja Saab', featuring actor Prabhas in the lead, have now confirmed that they are planning to release the dubbed Japanese version of the film in Japan, within three to six months of the film's release in India.

At a pre-release event organised by the makers of the film, the producer of the film, T G Vishwa Prasad was asked if they had plans to release the film in Japan, considering the popularity Prabhas enjoys in the country.

Responding to the question, the producer said, "We are at present releasing the film in Indian languages. We will have the film dubbed in Japanese and release it in Japan three to six months after the release here."

It may be recalled that Prabhas had only recently visited Japan for the release of his film 'Baahubali: The Epic'. The film was released there due to a huge fan following that the actor enjoys in the country.

Prior to 'Baahubali', the actor's film 'Saaho' too was released in Japan to full houses. In fact, 'Saaho', which was directed by Sujeeth and which featured Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead, went on to emerge as the highest opener for an Indian film in Japan when it released there.

Meanwhile, the producer said that they were uncertain about the number of screens 'The Raja Saab' would get in Tamil Nadu but they expected to get anywhere between 150 to 200 screens.

#TheRajaSaab is being hailed as a KING SIZE BLOCKBUSTER, driven by massive audience love. Fans on Twitter are so thrilled that the like button might as well be renamed for India’s Rebel Star, #Prabhas.

“I liked the movie, Prabhas is seen in a way we haven’t seen for years,” fans say. They advise viewers to make their own choice and not rely solely on reviews: if you want to watch #TheRajaSaab, go; if not, it’s your call.

The title card of #TheRajaSaab gives goosebumps, setting the tone for a hit movie. Rebel Star Prabhas shines, complemented by Thaman’s amazing background score that elevates the excitement.

The morning FDFS in Nepal saw an unbelievable crowd response for #TheRajaSaab. Fans personally recorded the chaos, showcasing the unreal stardom of India’s biggest superstar, Prabhas.

After receiving rave reviews, audiences flocked to theatres, creating massive chaos for #TheRajaSaab. The film’s strong word-of-mouth led to an overwhelming turnout from eager fans.

Prabhas once again proves his box office power, drawing massive crowds to theatres with #TheRajaSaab. A fun and entertaining festive watch for the whole family—catch it now in theatres!

The film’s attempt to explore a genre rarely touched in mainstream Telugu cinema is commendable, and its fantasy-driven concept holds promise. Yet, the loose screenplay and execution prevent it from reaching its full potential. Raja Saab clearly understands its star-driven intent, but a tighter narrative and stronger dramatic focus might have elevated it beyond a visually engaging yet inconsistent spectacle.

Malavika Mohanan, who plays a pivotal role in 'The Raja Saab' reveals that she shot a romantic scene with Prabhas on the first day. "First day of my shoot was a cute, romantic scene between Prabhas sir and me in Hyderabad," she said in a post on X. What about the last day? "And last day of shoot was #NacheNache song in Greece," she added.

"The final 40 minutes elevate the experience with top-notch visuals and a grand, immersive climax," writes industry tracker Ramesh Bala. He ranks the film 3.25 out of 5, and adds, "A genre film - best enjoyed in theatres for its scale, sound and atmosphere."

Yes, you read that right! Crocodiles, but fake ones. Now, what does crocodiles have to do with 'The Raja Saab'? The fans of the actor wanted to recreate an action scene from the film.

Prabhas starrer 'The Raja Saab', a horror comedy has hit the big screens today. While the film is getting mixed reviews, the fans of the actor think he nailed the comedy scenes. "This comedy side of Prabhas is so refreshing to watch," wrote an X user.

'The Raja Saab' is getting mixed response from the audience. An X user called the film a 'horror for the audience'. "One thing I can agree after watching the Raja Saab is that it's a horror movie, horror for the audience watching this Prabhas starrer ,random things are happening and you feel like having saridon to counter the headache," wrote @_livlovlaugh on X.

Prabhas often appears in larger-than-life characters, however, his latest release 'The Raja Saab' is a 'refreshing shift', according to an X user. "The Raja Saab presents Prabhas in a refreshing shift from his larger-than-life action image, leaning more toward romance and lighthearted entertainment. His screen presence remains strong, and the film’s colorful visuals, grand sets."

Prabhas' 'The Raja Saab' is receiving mixed reviews from the audience. One X user pointed that the script weighs down the film. "Writing- This is where the movie completely fails. The concept was great, but the story, screenplay, and dialogues were unbearable. Prabhas looks good in some scenes, but very bad in the songs. His dialogues are unclear; I couldn’t understand most of them. Female leads-Why were they even in the movie? Remove them and nothing changes. This movie had the potential to be Night at the Museum, but instead turned out to be troll-worthy."

As Prabhas starrer 'The Raja Saab' has hit the big screens today, the fans of the actor are elated. Social media is flooded with reactions on the release. One X user was impressed by Prabhas' swag. "Bringing back the 100% pure, unfiltered #Prabhas Anna's swag. It’s a festival in the theaters. Chills, laughs, and a whole lot of King-sized entertainment!" the post read.

Malavika Mohanan, who has also worked both Vijay and Prabhas, has now drawn parallels between the two.

A harsh review has labelled ‘The Raja Saab’ a “royal disaster,” calling it loud, lazy and soulless. The reviewer criticised the weak script and lack of substance, while clearly stating that Prabhas is not at fault, saying the actor deserved a far better film.

A viewer shared a blunt review, saying the film feels dull and tiring despite low expectations. The comedy rarely works, the story lacks flow, and emotional connect is missing. Thaman’s BGM helps only briefly. Apart from ‘Nache Nache’ and Prabhas’ title card, little stands out.

A fan gushes, “Prabhas’s performance in Raja Saab is absolutely top-notch! The movie is super entertaining, and his comic timing is brilliant. Ignore the negative reviews—just watch it! You’re going to love every moment of his performance. Truly a treat for fans of the Rebel star!”

A reviewer called ‘The Raja Saab’ a disappointing watch. While the horror-fantasy premise is promising and Prabhas brings energy after a long time, the messy screenplay, dated commercial elements, uneven VFX, and long runtime reduce the impact. Thaman’s music is a positive, but overall execution falls short.

A fan shared their experience watching ‘The Raja Saab’, calling it a good attempt at a different kind of movie. They said the first half is fun, the second half slows down briefly but picks up for fans. The ending could be better, but Prabhas fans should watch it on the big screen.

A fans shared that the first half of ‘The Raja Saab’ impresses with comedy, style, and entertainment, giving audiences a full package experience. Fans are loving the fun and energetic moments on screen. The movie’s light-hearted approach keeps viewers engaged, and Prabhas, fondly called “Darling,” shines, making the first half a complete entertainer.

Fans of Prabhas gathered outside Sandhya Theatre on the release of ‘The Raja Saab’, as per ANI. Videos show supporters garlanding a huge standalone poster of the actor. Many fans wore Raja Saab T-shirts, celebrating the release with excitement and enthusiasm, showing their love for the star in full swing.

A fan shared that the film is a horror-fantasy with an interesting idea, but weak execution drags the second half. Prabhas is energetic and comical, with his face-off against Sanjay Dutt as a highlight. Uneven VFX, messy screenplay, and weak emotional payoff reduce impact. Thaman’s music and Nidhhi Agerwal’s performance are positives. A one-time watch.

A fan shared an emotional reaction after watching the film. The fan said they were still in a trance after seeing what Rebel Prabhas and director Maruthi created. The scenes between the hero and the grandmother were called the emotional heart of the film. The fan also praised the last 40 minutes, saying Thaman’s music reached another level and the visuals were peak cinema.

A fan shared a detailed review of the film. The fan said director Maruthi handled the story neatly and kept it fun with mass moments and spooky scenes. The background music stood out and lifted the action and horror parts. Prabhas impressed with strong screen presence, while Sanjay Dutt surprised everyone. The first half felt gripping and entertaining. The second half turned more massy, with a few slow moments but steady flow.

A fan shared strong praise online, saying the film is entertaining. The fan said the first half never felt boring even for a minute. They felt Maruthi directed the film very well and delivered full entertainment.

'The Raja Saab' makers shared a Tweet saying, "The verdict is clear and loud with fans and audiences calling it the “BEST CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE” for its sheer awesomeness."

One Twitter user wrote, "#TheRajaSaab - Prabhas looks so Dull & Unenergetic with Poor Makeup. Glamour Heroines. Thaman’s Music ok. Bad CGI & Low Prodn Quality. Poor 1st Hlf & Clumpsy 2nd. Title Card & Opening Seq Gud. Pathetic Love Track. Palace Comedy Scenes give some relief. Too Lengthy & Boring. SKIP!"

One fan wrote, "Started the year with The Raja Saab. Watched it in 4DX — the experience was the only positive.Sadly, the film itself was a huge letdown. Mixed feelings, but honestly not a film that suits Prabhas. Disappointed".

Actor Rishab Shetty also wished the team success and wrote, "Wishing our darling #Prabhas Sir, @DirectorMaruthi, @MusicThaman @peoplemediafcy and the entire #TheRajaSaab team a massive blockbuster hit!"

The music by Thaman S is getting strong praise. Fans feel the music adds emotion and depth, especially during the climax. Many said the background score lifts the scenes. The climax is said to be long and immersive, nearly 40 minutes. The haunted theatre throws many scary challenges at Prabhas. He faces monsters, crocodiles, and strange forces. But some viewers complained about the CGI. A few netizens said the poor CGI ruined parts of the theatre experience, even though the idea was good.

One fan wrote, "Started the year with The Raja Saab. Watched it in 4DX — the experience was the only positive.Sadly, the film itself was a huge letdown. Mixed feelings, but honestly not a film that suits Prabhas. Disappointed".

Fans started sharing reactions from early shows. Many people liked the first half. One fan wrote, "The Raja Saab cinema first half super , super comedy, super songs." People are happy to see Prabhas in a fun role again. Many say his comic timing is very good. Fans also loved his mass introduction and called it the best in years. Some viewers who watched premiere shows said, "Vintage Prabhas Is Back."

Some viewers complained about poor CGI and said it affected the theatre experience. One Prabhas fan who watched the film in 4DX shared disappointment and felt the movie did not fully suit the actor, even though the technical experience was good.

One Twitter user shared a mixed review that read, "#TheRajaSaab ~ 2/5 ~ What’s the villa number ? The biggest mistake was Prabhas trusting Maruti with a film. It feels like Maruti had no clear idea of what he was making or what he wanted to say. This one deserves to be scrapped outright. Even Prabhas look or screen presence can’t save it. A letdown in every sense."