The Raja Saab Box Office Day 1: Prabhas Crosses ₹100 Cr Despite Negative Reviews
The Raja Saab Box Office Day 1
Prabhas’ Stardom vs Content Crisis—A Detailed Analysis
Post the monumental success of the Baahubali franchise, Prabhas transformed into one of the biggest pan-India superstars. Regardless of critical reception, his films have consistently opened big at the box office. His latest release, The Raja Saab, once again proves that Prabhas’ opening-day pull remains intact — even as deeper concerns begin to surface.
The Raja Saab Day 1 Box Office Collection: Strong Start Despite Mixed Reviews
Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab registered a massive opening at the box office.
Day 1 Collection Breakdown
- India (Day 1): ₹54.15 crore
- Paid Previews: ₹9.15 crore
- Total India Gross (Day 1 + Previews): ₹63.3 crore
- Overseas Collection: ₹26 crore
- Worldwide Total: ₹100+ crore
Despite being critically panned, the horror-comedy crossed the coveted ₹100 crore mark on Day 1, underlining Prabhas’ unmatched opening-day market.
Language-Wise Performance
Telugu Dominance, Hindi Struggles
A closer look at the numbers reveals a clear pattern.
Hindi vs Telugu Collections
- Telugu version: Major contributor to overall earnings
- Hindi version Day 1: ₹6.15 crore
At first glance, the Hindi numbers appear underwhelming. However, in context, they carry significance.
Hindi Box Office Record: A Quiet but Notable Milestone
Despite its modest Hindi opening, The Raja Saab achieved a small but notable feat.
Hindi Box Office Comparison
- Baahubali: The Beginning (Hindi Day 1): ₹5.15 crore
- The Raja Saab (Hindi Day 1): ₹6.15 crore
This makes The Raja Saab Prabhas’ Hindi opening higher than Baahubali: The Beginning, despite:
- Clashing releases like Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic
- Hindi advance bookings opening just hours before showtime
From this perspective, the Hindi opening can be considered respectable.
A Worrying Trend: Among Prabhas’ Lowest Hindi Openers in a Decade
When viewed against Prabhas’ post-Baahubali filmography, the trend is concerning.
Lowest Hindi Openings (Post-Baahubali)
- Radhe Shyam: ₹4.8 crore
- Baahubali: The Beginning: ~₹5 crore
- The Raja Saab: ₹6.15 crore
This places The Raja Saab as the third-lowest Hindi Day 1 opening for Prabhas in the last ten years — despite inflation, wider releases, and pan-India branding.
Comparison with Kalki 2898 AD: A Stark Contrast
Prabhas’ previous release, Kalki 2898 AD (2024), set new benchmarks.
Kalki 2898 AD Day 1 Performance
- Worldwide Day 1: ₹191 crore
- Hindi Day 1: ₹27.5 crore
- Lifetime Collection: ₹1100+ crore
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh highlighted the film’s nationwide wave, strong Tier-2 and Tier-3 performance, and resilience despite an India-England semi-final match.
In comparison, The Raja Saab lags far behind in Hindi traction and overall buzz.
Impact on the Box Office Landscape: Dhurandhar Finally Slows Down
Despite its flaws, The Raja Saab has had a significant market impact.
-
Dhurandhar (Aditya Dhar’s film)
-
Lifetime collection: ₹1200+ crore
-
Day 36 collection before Raja Saab: ₹3.5 crore
-
The arrival of The Raja Saab has effectively halted Dhurandhar’s long theatrical run, reclaiming screens and audience attention.
Story & Direction: A Misfired Attempt at Pre-Baahubali Prabhas
Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab attempts to revive the lighter, romantic-comedy Prabhas seen in films like Darling and Mr Perfect.
Core Premise
- Genre: Horror-Comedy-Fantasy-Romance
- Runtime: 189 minutes
- Story: A grandson battles a supernatural force to save his Alzheimer-stricken grandmother
While the concept holds promise, execution becomes its biggest enemy.
What Works: Production Design & Performances (Partially)
Positives
- Zarina Wahab delivers a dignified, emotionally restrained performance
- Rajeevan Nambiar’s production design creates visual intrigue inside the haunted mansion
- A glimpse of Sanjay Dutt’s backstory hints at effective horror
Unfortunately, these elements remain under-explored.
What Fails: Writing, Length & Emotional Disconnect
Major Issues
- Artificial, set-like environments lacking realism
- Characters show no genuine fear inside a haunted house
- Forced humour that consistently falls flat
- Over-dependence on green screens and VFX
- An overlong 30+ minute climax that arrives too late to redeem the narrative
Even moments involving psychological mind games, introduced via Boman Irani’s character, fail to leave lasting impact.
Prabhas’ Performance: Earnest but Uneven
Prabhas appears genuinely invested and enjoys portraying a playful character. However:
- Inconsistent looks
- Uneven dialogue delivery
- Weak emotional writing
…limit the effectiveness of his performance.
The three female leads — Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar — are underwritten, with barely defined character arcs.
Critical Reception: More Slog Than Scare
According to reviews, including HT’s critique, the film lacks depth, originality, and sustained tension.
“The Raja Saab’s aim might be to make you laugh, but the overall film needed more profundity and brilliance.”
The teaser for a sequel — The Raja Saab: Circus — feels less exciting and more exhausting for audiences who struggled through the first instalment.
Final Verdict: Stardom Wins Day 1, Content Loses Long Run
The Raja Saab is a classic case of:
- Massive opening driven by star power
- Weak long-term prospects due to poor content
While Prabhas continues to command record-breaking openings, the declining Hindi performance and mixed word-of-mouth raise important questions about script selection and creative direction.
For now, The Raja Saab proves that Prabhas can still open big — but sustaining momentum increasingly depends on stronger storytelling.