The Raja Saab: Prabhas Starrer Heading For A Good Start

Horror-Comedy Underperforms Compared to ‘Kalki’ and ‘Salaar’ Day 1 Totals; ₹450 Crore Budget Puts Pressure on Weekend Performance

January 9, 2026: One of the most anticipated films of 2026, the Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab, has officially hit theaters globally. While the film has generated significant buzz as a stylized horror-comedy, early box office trends suggest a start that is “good but not great,” especially when compared to the actor’s previous gargantuan openings.

Solid Previews but a Slower Start

According to industry tracker Sacnilk, The Raja Saab kicked off its journey with strong paid previews on Thursday, raking in ₹9.15 crore. Early estimates for Day 1 (Friday, January 9, 2026) suggest a domestic collection in the range of ₹35-40 crore. While these numbers are impressive for most actors, they fall significantly short of the benchmarks set by Prabhas himself.

For comparison:

Kalki 2898 AD: ₹95.3 crore (Day 1)
Salaar: ₹90.7 crore (Day 1)
The Raja Saab: ₹35-40 crore (Estimated Day 1)

Trade analysts suggest that if evening and night shows witness a surge in occupancy, the film might cross the ₹45 crore mark, but it remains far from the “bumper openings” Prabhas fans have grown accustomed to.

Critical Reception: “Visually Stunning but Narratively Weak”

The film’s modest start may be linked to the predominantly negative reviews from critics. Despite being marketed as a grand horror-comedy, reviewers have criticized the “outdated” script and lack of genuine humor.

“The Raja Saab had the potential to be a fantastic cinematic experience, but the weak screenplay and narration make this film a below-average watch. While there are a couple of jump scares, there’s not even one scene that will make you laugh out loud.”

Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) were equally harsh, with many calling the film an “ultra disaster” and blaming the stagnant screenplay for wasting Prabhas’ screen presence.

The ₹450 Crore Stakes and Part 2 Announcement

With a reported production budget of ₹400-450 crore, the stakes are incredibly high for director Maruthi and the production house. The film requires a massive jump over the Saturday and Sunday period to recover its costs.

In a surprising move, the film concludes with the announcement of a sequel titled Raja Saab: Circus 1935. However, industry insiders suggest that the future of the sequel will depend entirely on how the first installment sustains itself at the box office over the next ten days.