Prabhas Starrer ‘The Raja Saab’ Film May Face Dhurandhar Heat; May Open At THIS Amount

The Pan-India horror-comedy marks Prabhas’ transition from heavy action to a playful, romantic avatar; advance bookings show strong Telugu grip but a “lukewarm” Hindi start.

January 8, 2026: The “Rebel Star” is back, but this time with a grin rather than a grimace. Prabhas is set to reclaim the big screen tomorrow, Friday, January 9, 2026, with his highly anticipated fantasy horror-comedy, The Raja Saab. Directed by Maruthi, the film is being hailed by fans as the return of “Vintage Prabhas”—the charming, witty, and romantic hero last seen in pre-Baahubali hits like Darling and Mr. Perfect.

However, as the film enters the Sankranti 2026 box office battle, early projections suggest a formidable climb ahead.

The Box Office Forecast: A “Lukewarm” Start?

Despite Prabhas’ unparalleled stardom, trade experts predict a domestic opening in the range of ₹65–70 crore net. While this figure would be a career-best for most actors—surpassing the opening days of Jawan (₹64 cr) and Animal (₹63 cr)—it is considered “underwhelming” by the high standards set by the actor himself.

Film	Day 1 Domestic Collection
Kalki 2898 AD	₹96 Crore
Salaar	₹90 Crore
Adipurush	₹86 Crore
The Raja Saab (Projected)	₹65–70 Crore

The Distribution Break-up:

• Telugu (Original): Expected to lead with ₹45–50 crore, bolstered by a significant ticket price hike in Andhra Pradesh (premiere tickets priced at ₹1,000).
• Hindi Dub: Projected at ₹10–12 crore. The film faces stiff competition in the North from Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, which is still drawing massive crowds in its fifth week.
• Other Dubs (Tamil/Kannada/Malayalam): Expected to contribute ₹5–6 crore, partially suppressed by the release of Thalapathy Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan.

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Spooks, Swag, and Sanjay Dutt

The Raja Saab revolves around a young man who enters his ancestral mansion to claim his property, only to find himself trapped in a supernatural game involving the spirit of his grandfather.

• The Avatar: Director Maruthi has promised a “never-before-seen” characterization for Prabhas, focusing on his comic timing and “innate swag.”
• The Antagonist: Sanjay Dutt joins the cast as a menacing hypnotist, whose face-off with Prabhas in the final 30 minutes is reportedly the film’s USP.
• The Length: The film has a massive runtime of 189 minutes (3 hours 9 minutes), with a 45-minute climax that reportedly took 70 days to film on India’s largest indoor set.

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The “Sankranti” Advantage

While the Day 1 numbers might miss the ₹90 crore mark, the long-term outlook is optimistic. With the Sankranti festival falling on Wednesday, the film enjoys a six-day extended holiday period.

“If even 1% of you are disappointed… you can come to my house and question me,” director Maruthi confidently told fans at a recent pre-release event.