The Raja Saab Day 1 Box Office Collection: Prabhas’ Horror-Comedy Delivers a Steady Start on Sankranti Release

Prabhas returns to the big screen with The Raja Saab, a grand Telugu-language fantasy horror-comedy directed by Maruthi and produced by People Media Factory and IVY Entertainment. Released worldwide on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranti festival, the film features an impressive ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan (in her Telugu debut), Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab. With music by Thaman S, the movie blends romance, laughs, and spine-chilling moments in a unique haunted mansion storyline.

Made on a reported budget of around ₹300-400 crore, The Raja Saab marks Prabhas’ first venture into the horror-comedy genre. The postponement of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan cleared the path for a largely solo run, boosting screen allocation and advance bookings, especially in South India and overseas territories.

Day 1 Box Office Highlights

Early estimates from trade sources like Sacnilk and industry reports indicate a decent and steady opening for the film:

• India Net Collection (Day 1): Around ₹4.52 crore across all languages (Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam), with figures expected to rise as final numbers come in.
• Worldwide Performance: The film showed stronger momentum overseas, with North America premieres and Day 1 gross nearing $1.3-1.77 million (approximately ₹11-15 crore). Advance bookings contributed significantly, pushing total pre-release business past ₹50 crore globally.

Advance sales were robust leading up to release:

• India: Over ₹4.6-11 crore (excluding blocked seats in some reports), with lakhs of tickets sold across thousands of shows.
• Overseas: Close to $2 million for the opening weekend, led by strong North America figures (USA and Canada), followed by contributions from UK/Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and Gulf countries.

What Worked and Challenges

Strengths — Prabhas’ unbeatable star power, festive Sankranti timing, reduced competition, ticket price hikes in Andhra Pradesh, and extra shows in South states drove solid footfalls in Telugu regions. The film’s unique blend of horror, comedy, and mass elements appealed to core fans.

Mixed Reactions — Early audience feedback is varied: Many praised Prabhas’ energetic performance, Thaman’s music, grand visuals (especially in the climax), and the fresh concept. However, some noted issues with pacing, length (around 3 hours), screenplay execution, and VFX in certain sequences.

Trade analysts predict growth over the weekend and Sankranti holidays if positive word-of-mouth spreads, potentially pushing the film toward a strong first week. Prabhas’ proven track record with blockbusters like Baahubali 2, Salaar, and Kalki 2898 AD keeps expectations high for recovery and momentum.

The Raja Saab is currently entertaining audiences with its royal drama, supernatural thrills, and Prabhas’ signature swag. Stay tuned for Day 2 and weekend updates as the film aims to dominate the box office this festive season! For real-time figures, check reliable trackers like Sacnilk.