At a vibrant pre-release event in Hyderabad, superstar Prabhas shared heartfelt praise for his colleagues and revealed key insights about the making of his upcoming horror-comedy, The Raja Saab. The event, held on Saturday, saw the actor express confidence that the film, alongside other Sankranti releases, will become a major box office success.
Praising the Cast: From Grandmother to Antagonist
Prabhas began by highlighting the core relationship in the film, stating it is a story about a grandmother and grandson. He expressed immense admiration for veteran actress Zarina Wahab, who plays his on-screen grandmother. "While dubbing, I was so absorbed in her scenes that I forgot my own dialogues. I became a fan of my on-screen grandmother," Prabhas revealed. He went on to declare, "In this film, along with me, the grandmother character is also a hero."
The actor also reserved special praise for Bollywood heavyweight Sanjay Dutt, who plays the chief antagonist. "Sanjay Dutt sir has an amazing screen presence. When the camera goes in for a close-up, he completely dominates the frame," said Prabhas. This role comes shortly after Dutt's acclaimed performance in the spy thriller Dhurandhar.
Prabhas didn't forget the film's leading ladies, complimenting each one individually. He noted Riddhi Kumar's hard work, admired Malavika Mohanan's beautiful eyes and her dedication over two and a half years, and described Nidhhi Agerwal as a positive and calm presence on set, calling her a "beautiful and nice person, which is a very rare combination."
The Unsung Heroes: Producer and Director's Vision
Beyond the cast, Prabhas credited the film's producer, Vishwa Prasad, as a true hero. He explained that the film's scale expanded significantly during its three-year shoot, escalating the budget. "We were scared — but Vishwa Prasad wasn't. He was very brave. I’m saying this seriously: the hero of The Raja Saab is Vishwa Prasad," Prabhas asserted.
He also recalled a pivotal conversation with director Maruthi, where he suggested injecting fun into the project. "Let’s add some entertainment, darling. We tried many ideas, and finally, horror comedy worked out," Prabhas said, noting that most contemporary films have become "too serious" with relentless action. He praised Maruthi for working under immense pressure for three years to deliver what he called the director's first full-fledged Sankranti entertainer in 15 years.
Technical Brilliance and Sankranti Hopes
Prabhas expressed his excitement for the film's unique climax and technical aspects. He became a fan of Maruthi's writing, joking, "I don’t know whether he wrote the climax with a pen or a machine gun—but it’s something entirely new." For the background score, they specifically sought out composer S Thaman, believing no one else in India could match the required level for a horror film.
He also thanked cinematographer Karthik for the high-quality visuals and action choreographers Ram-Lakshman and Solomon Masters for nailing the sequences. Prabhas teased that the next trailer would showcase both Maruthi's "madness" and Vishwa Prasad's "budget."
Looking ahead to the festive release in Sankranti 2026, Prabhas wished success for all competing films, a tradition he learned from industry seniors. "All films releasing during Sankranti should become blockbusters... If our film also becomes a blockbuster along with theirs, we’ll be very happy," he stated. The Raja Saab will clash with several other major releases including Vijay's Jana Nayagan and Chiranjeevi's Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu.
The event had a lighthearted moment when fans chanted "Baahubali Jai Ho" during his speech. Prabhas quipped, "Are you chanting 'Baahubali Jai Ho' because you think my speech is boring?" He promised to one day deliver a stage performance that would leave the audience completely shocked and entertained.
