The highly anticipated Prabhas-starrer, 'The Raja Saab', has finally made its grand theatrical debut across the globe. The film, a romantic horror-comedy, opened to packed early-morning shows in many cinema halls as fans thronged to catch the first screenings. While the initial critical reception appears mixed, the movie has kicked off its box office journey on a remarkably strong note, powered by massive advance bookings.
A Blockbuster Start at the Box Office
Despite opening its advance ticket sales relatively late and missing a key market like Telangana, 'The Raja Saab' has posted an outstanding start worldwide. The film's global pre-sales for the opening day alone have crossed the impressive Rs 50 crore mark, a feat that highlights the star power of Prabhas and the hype surrounding the project.
The advance booking trends have been exceptionally robust in Andhra Pradesh, where premiere shows themselves have raked in over Rs 10 crore. Overseas markets also gained significant momentum on the last day before release, collectively contributing nearly Rs 22 crore from combined day-one tickets and premieres. According to the tracking site Sacnilk, the film had earned approximately Rs 12.27 crore by Friday afternoon, with expectations of a surge during the evening and night shows.
Star-Studded Cast and Global Release
'The Raja Saab' features an ensemble cast led by Prabhas, alongside veteran actors like Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani. The film also stars Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab. To maximize its reach, the movie received a worldwide simultaneous release in multiple languages, including Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and English.
Mixed Reactions and Market Competition
The early audience reviews for 'The Raja Saab' present a divided picture. While a section of fans has expressed love and admiration for the film, others have voiced disappointment. This split in opinion makes the coming weekend crucial for the film's long-term prospects. The box office numbers will reveal whether positive word-of-mouth can propel it forward or if negative reviews will dampen its run.
The release of Prabhas' film has also impacted the box office performance of other movies. 'Dhurandhar', which had been dominating collections for the past five weeks, saw a noticeable dip. By Friday afternoon, 'Dhurandhar' had collected only around Rs 69 lakhs, a significant drop attributed to the arrival of 'The Raja Saab' and the Hindi-dubbed version of the Gujarati hit 'Laalo'. However, 'Laalo' has a limited screen count and is not expected to majorly affect the other two releases, especially since its original Gujarati version has already performed exceedingly well.
All eyes are now on the weekend collections to determine if 'The Raja Saab' can sustain its powerful opening and emerge as a commercial hit, or if it will succumb to the weight of its mixed reception. The stage is set for a decisive few days at the box office.
