Prabhas's ambitious foray into horror-comedy, "The Raja Saab," has delivered a theatrical spectacle with mixed results, raising questions about star-driven cinema's balance between scale and substance. The movie, which released globally on January 9, 2026, to coincide with the Sankranthi festival, opened to massive box office numbers but faced sharp criticism from reviewers.
The film's journey—from one of the most expensive Telugu productions ever to its confirmed digital future on JioHotstar—offers a compelling case study on the current state of Indian pan-India cinema.
Prabhas's "The Raja Saab" has completed its opening weekend, revealing a stark divergence between massive financial returns and widespread critical disapproval, further complicated by a high-profile piracy incident. As of January 12, 2026, the horror-comedy has crossed the ₹150 crore mark globally but faces a significant downturn in daily collections. New developments also include confirmed police action against piracy and renewed confusion over its digital streaming platform.
Summary of Evolution
The story evolved from initial hype and potential to post-release reality. The updated narrative confirms that while Prabhas's star power delivered a huge opening, the film's core weaknesses led to a steep decline in collections. Furthermore, new external factors like piracy and police action became a significant part of the story, and the OTT release, while imminent, remains officially unconfirmed, adding to the film's unpredictable trajectory. The sequel confirmation remains a constant, pointing to long-term franchise ambitions despite the mixed response.
The Premise and Production Scale
Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab is a fantasy horror comedy starring Prabhas in a dual role. The narrative follows Raja Saab, a man searching for his missing grandfather, which leads him to a haunted mansion controlled by a sinister presence.
The film boasts a large ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan (in her Telugu debut), Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar.
The production was monumental. It was shot on what is reported to be the largest indoor film set ever built in India, a mansion spanning 41,256 square feet constructed near Hyderabad.
This scale contributed to a staggering budget estimated between ₹350 to ₹450 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films to date.
A significant portion of this budget is attributed to Prabhas's remuneration and extensive visual effects work, which spanned nearly 300 days in post-production.
Critical Reception: A "Royal Mess" or Fun Spectacle?
The critical response to The Raja Saab has been predominantly negative, highlighting a significant gap between its ambition and execution.
Here’s a summary of the critical consensus:
| Review Source | Rating (Out of 5) | Key Criticism | Positive Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDTV | 2 | "A royal mess"; weak script, inordinate length, lack of logic. | Acknowledges Prabhas's effort and screen presence. |
| The Hindu | Not Specified | "Bizarre spectacle"; messy narrative, fails as horror or comedy, feels artificial. | Praises production design and Prabhas's earnest attempt. |
| The Indian Express | 2 | "Sloppy and outdated"; wastes a solid central idea. | - |
| Hindustan Times | 2 | Genre isn't new, but execution doesn't live up to predecessors. | - |
| IMDb User Reviews | ~4.4/10 | Criticizes weak VFX, overlong runtime, and disjointed story. | Some fans appreciate Prabhas's performance and "timepass" value. |
A common thread in reviews is the criticism of the film's excessive runtime of over 3 hours, which many found to be an endurance test that exacerbated narrative flaws. Critics also pointed out that the three female leads are underdeveloped, serving more as decorative elements than characters with purpose.
Despite this, most reviewers singled out Prabhas's committed performance as the film's sole redeeming factor, noting he brings earnest energy to a lighter, more playful role compared to his recent epic outings.
Opening Weekend Box Office: Strong Start, Sharp Decline
Despite the critical panning, The Raja Saab opened with tremendous commercial force, demonstrating Prabhas's unparalleled draw.The film opened globally on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranthi festival. It began with a massive first-day haul but has since experienced a steep decline, a trend highlighted in the latest weekend figures.
- Day 1 Collection: The film earned an estimated ₹54.15 crore in India on its first day (including paid previews).
- Regional Performance: It performed strongest in its core Telugu market, with an overall occupancy of 57.16%, peaking at nearly 70% for night shows. Occupancy was lower in Hindi (15.63%) and Tamil (22.69%) regions.
- Advance Sales: Prior to release, it sold about 5.62 lakh tickets nationally, generating roughly ₹28.09 crore.
- Global Opening Weekend: The film has amassed a worldwide gross collection of approximately ₹158 crore in its first three days. This includes net collections of about ₹109 crore in India and over $3 million (roughly ₹25 crore) from overseas markets.
- Significant Daily Drop: Despite the strong start, the film's earnings plummeted by 51% in India on its second day (Saturday) and fell a further 20% on Sunday. This sharp decline is widely attributed to overwhelmingly negative word-of-mouth from critics and audiences.
- Comparative Performance: The three-day global total has allowed The Raja Saab to surpass the lifetime collections of recent Telugu releases like Akhanda 2 (₹128 crore). However, its weak opening for a Prabhas film and the rapid drop in collections pose challenges for its long-term sustainability.
OTT Release and Digital Rights
The digital destination for The Raja Saab remains officially unconfirmed, leading to conflicting reports in the media.
- Rumored Platform & Date: Most industry reports, including from Deccan Chronicle, suggest that JioHotstar has acquired the digital rights and that the film is likely to begin streaming by the end of February 2026. This aligns with the typical 6-8 week window for major theatrical releases.
- Lack of Official Confusion: Despite these reports, there has been no official announcement from the makers or the platform. Some recent news pieces even mention conflicting reports about Netflix being in the running, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty.
- Previous Piracy Incident: The conversation around its OTT release was prematurely sparked when a pirated copy of the film was publicly screened at a restaurant in Dublin, Ohio, USA, just a day after its theatrical release. This incident underscores the persistent piracy threats facing high-profile Indian films.
Final Verdict & Where to Watch
The Raja Saab is a film of contradictions—a commercial powerhouse on opening day but a critical misfire, now embroiled in piracy issues. Its legacy will depend on whether it can stabilize its collections during the holiday period.
- For Die-Hard Prabhas Fans: The film offers the star in a novel, lighter role with ample style and swagger, best enjoyed as a big-screen spectacle with managed expectations.
- For General Audiences: The overwhelming critical consensus suggests the film is a flawed, overlong experience that may not justify the ticket price or runtime.
The film is currently running in theatres worldwide. For those waiting to stream it, The Raja Saab is expected to premiere on JioHotstar by late February 2026, though an official date is pending.
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Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
What is the total box office collection of The Raja Saab after 3 days?
As of the end of its first weekend (January 11, 2026), The Raja Saab has earned approximately ₹158.5 crore gross worldwide. This includes a domestic net collection of ₹108.93 crore in India and a strong performance in North America, where it surpassed $2.2 million.
Where and when will The Raja Saab release on OTT?
The digital streaming rights for the film have been acquired by JioHotstar. While an official date hasn't been announced, industry reports suggest it will premiere around late February 2026, following the standard 8-week theatrical window.
What action has been taken against the piracy of The Raja Saab?
Following reports of a pirated version being screened at a restaurant in the US and leaked online, the Hyderabad Cyber Police have launched a massive crackdown. Several arrests have been made, and authorities are currently tracking a Sri Lanka-based individual suspected of operating major piracy domains like 5movierulz.
Is there a sequel confirmed?
Yes. The end credits of the film officially confirm a sequel titled "RajaSaab 2: Circus 1935." Director Maruthi has clarified that while it sits within the same horror-comedy universe, it will feature a fresh narrative set in the 1930s rather than being a direct continuation.
How have critics rated the film?
The critical reception has been largely negative to mixed. Major publications like NDTV and The Indian Express have rated it 2 out of 5 stars, praising Prabhas's "vintage" charm but criticizing the thin plot, excessive 214-minute runtime, and inconsistent VFX.
What is the budget of The Raja Saab?
The film is one of the most expensive Indian productions, with an estimated budget between ₹350 crore and ₹400 crore. A significant portion was invested in high-end VFX and the massive "Raja Saab" mansion set built specifically for the horror sequences.
