The much-anticipated horror drama 'The Raja Saab', starring pan-India superstar Prabhas, has experienced a dramatic rollercoaster at the box office within its first weekend. The film, which opened to massive fanfare and stellar advance bookings, witnessed a phenomenal start only to face a significant decline on its second day, raising questions about its long-term sustainability.
A Blockbuster Opening Powered by Star Power
The Raja Saab kicked off its theatrical run with impressive paid preview shows, collecting a robust ₹9.15 crore net in India, as per industry tracker Sacnilk. The real surge came on its official first day, Friday, where the film amassed a whopping ₹54.15 crore net across the country. The Telugu version led the charge with a massive contribution of ₹47.4 crore. The Hindi dubbed version added ₹6.15 crore, while the Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam versions contributed ₹0.4 crore, ₹0.1 crore, and ₹0.1 crore respectively, marking a strong pan-India presence right from the start.
The Saturday Slump: A Sharp 65% Drop
The initial euphoria, however, was met with a stark reality check on Day 2. Early estimates indicate that the film's collections plummeted sharply on Saturday, netting approximately ₹3.35 crore at the Indian box office. This dramatic dip of around 65% from its first-day numbers has become a major talking point within trade circles. Analysts attribute this steep fall to mixed word-of-mouth and reviews from audiences, particularly concerning the film's narrative execution and genre-blending approach, which seemingly impacted walk-in and repeat viewership in several key markets.
What Lies Ahead for Prabhas' Horror Drama?
Despite the Day 2 setback, 'The Raja Saab' has still managed to secure a remarkable 3-day India net total of approximately ₹66.65 crores, heavily buoyed by its record-breaking opening day. The focus now shifts to Sunday's collections and the crucial weekday performance. The central question looming over the film's commercial fate is whether it can stabilize and maintain enough momentum to convert its tremendous opening into a long-running box office success. While Prabhas's undeniable star power guaranteed a spectacular opening, the coming days will test the film's content-driven appeal among wider audiences.
Directed by Maruthi, 'The Raja Saab' features Prabhas alongside leading actors Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar. The film boasts high production values with music by Thaman S, cinematography by Karthik Palani, and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Marketed as a commercial entertainer promising a 'genre-change', the film's box office journey is being closely watched as it navigates through audience feedback and market dynamics.
