What began with massive expectations is now shaping up to be one of the most disappointing box office stories in recent Telugu cinema. The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas, has finally crossed the ₹200 crore worldwide mark—but it has taken a full 10 days to get there, a worrying first for the star in the post-Baahubali era.
Trade estimates confirm that the film touched ₹200 crore globally on Sunday, making it the slowest Prabhas film to reach the milestone since his rise as a pan-Indian superstar. While the makers continue to project confidence, ground-level numbers tell a far more sobering story.
A Dream Opening That Quickly Fell Apart
The Raja Saab opened on a strong note, collecting nearly ₹100 crore worldwide on its very first day. That massive start briefly raised hopes of a healthy long run, especially given the festive Sankranthi window. However, the momentum collapsed almost immediately.
The film failed the crucial Monday test and never recovered. Even the holiday period—which usually gives struggling films a second wind—did little to revive collections. By the second weekend, the drop was dramatic.
During its second weekend, The Raja Saab earned just ₹9 crore net in India, marking a staggering 92% decline from its opening weekend. After one full week in theatres, the film stood at around ₹139.25 crore net domestically (₹167 crore gross).
Overseas Start Strong, But Momentum Fades
Internationally, the film benefited from a solid opening day in the US, helping it earn roughly $4 million overseas. However, just like the domestic market, overseas collections slowed rapidly after the first few days.
With overseas and Indian grosses combined, the film’s one-week worldwide total now stands at approximately ₹202 crore. While that figure may sound respectable on paper, the pace at which it was achieved has become the real concern.
Slowest ₹200 Cr Milestone in Prabhas’ Career
The scale of The Raja Saab’s underperformance becomes clearer when compared to Prabhas’ earlier box office disappointments. Even widely criticised films like Adipurush and Saaho reached ₹200 crore worldwide in just two days.
In contrast, The Raja Saab took five times longer to cross the same mark. Both Adipurush and Saaho eventually wrapped their runs in the ₹390–430 crore range. Trade analysts believe The Raja Saab is now unlikely to come anywhere close to those figures.
That spells trouble, especially considering reports suggest the film was mounted on a massive ₹400 crore budget, excluding additional marketing costs. At this point, the project is firmly in the red.
Expectations vs Reality
Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab was pitched as a return to a more family-friendly, lighter Prabhas—something fans had been waiting for after years of intense action-heavy roles. Marketed as a “vintage Prabhas” entertainer, curiosity was high ahead of release.
The ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab.
However, negative reviews from critics and weak word of mouth quickly overshadowed the nostalgia-driven marketing, causing audiences to drop off sharply after the opening rush.
Final Words
Ten days into its theatrical run, The Raja Saab has become a cautionary tale rather than a comeback story. Despite a huge opening and a festive release window, the film’s inability to sustain interest has exposed the growing gap between hype and audience acceptance.
For Prabhas, whose box office standards are among the highest in Indian cinema, this slow crawl past ₹200 crore is a rare and uncomfortable milestone. Unless something dramatically changes, The Raja Saab looks set to end its run as one of the most expensive misfires of his career.
