Prabhas’ much-anticipated horror-comedy The Raja Saab has witnessed a disappointing turn at the box office, especially on its opening weekend. Despite a strong pre-release buzz and a decent opening day, the film’s collections saw a steady decline, culminating in the lowest first Sunday collection for the superstar in the last four years.
According to early trade estimates, The Raja Saab earned ₹19.1 crore nett in India on Day 3 (Sunday). This marked not only the film’s weakest single-day performance so far but also a significant low point in Prabhas’ recent box office history.
Opening Weekend Box Office Performance
Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab opened in theatres with a ₹53.75 crore nett collection, including ₹9.15 crore from Thursday’s paid premieres in the Telugu market, as reported by trade tracker Sacnilk.
However, instead of growing over the weekend, the film showed a downward trend:
- Friday: ₹53.75 crore
- Saturday: ₹26 crore
- Sunday: ₹19.1 crore
By the end of its first three days, the film managed to collect approximately ₹108 crore nett in India, falling short of expectations for a Prabhas-led pan-Indian release.
Lowest First Sunday for Prabhas Since 2021
The Sunday numbers are particularly concerning when compared to Prabhas’ recent releases. Over the past few years, even his underperforming films managed stronger first Sunday figures.
- Kalki 2898 AD (2024): ₹105.5 crore on Sunday alone
- Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (2023): ₹62.05 crore on first Sunday
- Radhe Shyam (2022): ₹22.3 crore on first Sunday
In comparison, The Raja Saab’s ₹19.1 crore on Day 3 is the lowest first Sunday total for the actor in four years, highlighting the film’s weak audience reception.
Negative Reviews Impact Box Office Momentum
One of the primary reasons behind the film’s poor hold appears to be its overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics and audiences alike have expressed disappointment with the execution, screenplay, and overall narrative.
India Today, in its review, awarded the film one-and-a-half stars, describing it as “a soulless film with hardly anything redeemable.” Such strong criticism significantly affected word-of-mouth publicity, leading to reduced footfalls across multiplexes and single-screen theatres.
Star Cast and Genre Expectations
The Raja Saab features a notable ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Brahmanandam, Nidhii Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Yogi Babu in key roles. Marketed as a horror-comedy, the film was expected to offer a fresh genre shift for Prabhas.
However, the blend of horror and comedy failed to strike a chord with viewers, with many citing inconsistent tone and weak writing as major drawbacks.
What Lies Ahead for The Raja Saab
With declining collections and negative word-of-mouth, The Raja Saab faces an uphill battle in the coming weekdays. Trade analysts suggest that the film will struggle to maintain momentum unless there is a drastic improvement in audience response or support from holiday footfalls.
For Prabhas, who delivered massive blockbusters like Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD in recent years, The Raja Saab stands out as a rare misstep in an otherwise strong box office run.
Conclusion
The Raja Saab has turned out to be an unexpected disappointment at the box office. Recording the lowest first Sunday collection for Prabhas in four years, the film underscores how critical audience reception and strong storytelling remain, regardless of star power.
As the film enters its first full week, all eyes will be on whether it can stabilise its collections or fade out quickly amid stiff competition and negative reviews.