After weeks of buzz and curiosity, The Raja Saab has finally arrived in theatres — and its opening-day numbers are already sparking debate. Starring Prabhas in a genre he hasn’t explored in years, the film has posted a modest start compared to his recent big-scale releases, marking his lowest post-pandemic opener so far.
That said, the story doesn’t end with disappointment. Despite the relatively slower opening, The Raja Saab still managed to shake up the box office hierarchy on Day 1.
Day 1 Box Office Numbers: A Mixed Bag
According to early trade estimates, The Raja Saab earned around ₹54.15 crore worldwide on its opening day, including premiere shows.
- India net (all languages): ~₹45 crore
- Premieres: ~₹9.15 crore
While these figures are significantly lower than Prabhas’ recent tentpole releases, they are still strong enough to put the film at the top of the Indian box office for the day.
Why the Opening Was Muted
Trade analysts point out that the softer start was largely expected. Unlike Prabhas’ recent mass action spectacles, The Raja Saab is positioned as a horror comedy and family entertainer, a genre that traditionally doesn’t explode on Day 1.
Other factors also played a role:
- Advance bookings opened relatively late
- Limited “mass” appeal compared to action-heavy films
- Genre shift after a long streak of large-scale action dramas
As a result, the opening didn’t reach the dizzying highs fans have come to associate with the Baahubali star.
How It Compares to Prabhas’ Recent Openers
On paper, the numbers do fall short when stacked against his previous releases:
- Salaar: ~₹90 crore (Day 1)
- Kalki 2898 AD: ~₹95 crore (Day 1)
- Adipurush: ~₹86 crore (Day 1)
By comparison, The Raja Saab clearly emerges as the weakest post-pandemic opener in Prabhas’ career — a reality that may sting, especially given the expectations surrounding his return to a lighter genre.
Still Strong Enough to Shake the Box Office
Despite the slower start, the film delivered one crucial surprise — it overtook the long-running box office leader Dhurandhar on its opening morning itself.
By 9 AM, The Raja Saab had comfortably surpassed Dhurandhar’s Thursday haul of ₹4.25 crore, effectively ending the Ranveer Singh-starrer’s five-week reign at the top of the Indian box office.
For context, Dhurandhar had opened at ₹28 crore on Day 1 — making The Raja Saab’s opening, even with its perceived underperformance, still stronger in raw numbers.
Not as ‘Big’ — But Bigger Than Many Blockbusters
Interestingly, The Raja Saab’s Day 1 figures are still higher than the opening-day collections of several recent blockbusters, including:
- Jawan
- Animal
- Leo
- Dhurandhar
This puts the film in an unusual position — a “low” opener by Prabhas standards, yet a solid one by industry-wide benchmarks.
About the Film and Its Appeal
Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab has drawn attention for marking Prabhas’ return to a family-friendly, lighter entertainer after more than a decade. Since the Baahubali era, the actor has largely headlined high-octane action films, making this tonal shift particularly notable.
The film also features a large ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab.
Fans have already begun calling this version of Prabhas a return to his “vintage” charm — something that could help the film grow over the weekend.
Final Words
The Raja Saab may not have delivered the thunderous opening Prabhas’ action films usually guarantee, but its Day 1 performance is far from weak. By dethroning Dhurandhar and posting a solid opening despite genre limitations, the film has set itself up for a telling weekend. Whether it finds real momentum now depends entirely on word-of-mouth — especially among family audiences, where this film is clearly aiming to win.
