The highly anticipated horror comedy The Raja Saab, starring Indian cinema superstar Prabhas, roared into theaters with an impressive opening on its first day at the box office. Released worldwide on January 9, 2026, the film earned a whopping 54.15 crore across all markets on Day 1, showcasing the continuing pull of Prabhas as a major box office draw despite mixed critical responses.
Made on a reported budget of 400 crore, The Raja Saab marks a notable departure from the typical action blockbusters that have defined much of Prabhas’s recent career. Instead, the film blends elements of horror and comedy — an unusual combination for a pan India release of this scale.
A Strong Worldwide Start
From early estimates, the film’s opening day performance stood out for its solid collections. On Day 1, The Raja Saab collected approximately 45 crore net in India, with 9.15 crore earned from paid previews — making up its total of 54.15 crore worldwide.
The film’s performance underscores the enduring box office appeal of Prabhas, particularly in the Telugu speaking markets where his fanbase remains extremely strong. Analysts noted that occupancy levels were notably higher during later shows, indicating growing audience interest as the day progressed.
Language Wise Breakdown Indicative
While exact detailed breakdowns vary slightly among trackers, overall earnings show a dominant performance in key regions:
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Telugu version contributed a significant portion of the collections — the Telugu states continue to be the film’s strongest market.
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Hindi version also added to the Day 1 total, though with more modest numbers.
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Other language markets such as Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam added smaller but meaningful contributions.
These figures reflect the pan India appeal of The Raja Saab, confirming that multi language releases remain a profitable strategy for big budget Indian films.
Context How This Opening Compares
When viewed against Prabhas’s own box office history, The Raja Saab opening sits in an interesting position:
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Although The Raja Saab’s Day 1 collections are strong above many other releases, they remain below the heights reached by films like Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD, which had significantly larger opening figures.
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Despite this, the 54.15 crore opening day still outpaced the first day collections of many recent major releases including other high profile films that had dominated screens earlier.
In this sense, The Raja Saab shows a balanced commercial performance — not the highest of Prabhas’s career, but a very strong start for a film in the horror comedy genre, especially given the competition and mixed pre release expectations.
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Role of Paid Previews and Audience Anticipation
Paid previews have become a common strategy to boost opening figures for big films — and in this case, The Raja Saab benefitted significantly from them. With nearly 9.15 crore coming from paid previews held on Thursday prior to the official release date, the film received a meaningful head start even before regular screenings began.
This head start likely reflects strong anticipation among fans, especially those eager to see Prabhas in a genre that diverges from his typical action hero persona. The horror comedy angle — with spooky elements balanced by humor — created curiosity, drawing audiences across language markets.
Mixed Reviews but Solid Commercial Response
Critics and early audience reactions have been mixed, with some praising the film’s ambition and others pointing out weaknesses in story structure or effects. Despite these mixed assessments, the commercial response remains strong. The film’s box office performance suggests that viewers — especially loyal fans of Prabhas — were enthusiastic to catch it in theaters on the very first day.
This dynamic — strong business performance alongside divided critical opinion — is not unusual in contemporary cinema, where star power and fan engagement can significantly influence initial box office numbers.
Impact on the Year’s Box Office Landscape
As one of the first major Indian film releases of 2026, The Raja Saab is set to influence how the year’s box office trajectory takes shape. Its strong opening on Day 1 positions it as a notable performer, particularly in the context of genre diversity and pan India releases.
The film’s performance might also encourage more experimentation with genre blends in mainstream Indian cinema, suggesting that audiences are willing to support films that step outside the traditional masala entertainer mold.
Looking Ahead
Following its strong Day 1, industry watchers will be observing how The Raja Saab performs over the weekend and into its first week — often a key indicator of a film’s long term commercial viability. The opening suggests good momentum, and whether this translates into sustained success will depend on word of mouth, audience reception in different regions, and competition from upcoming releases.
For Prabhas, this film marks another chapter in an already storied career — one where he continues to be a catalyst for box office success and audience draw across diverse genres and markets.