The much-anticipated horror comedy starring Prabhas, 'The Raja Saab,' has kicked off its theatrical run with an explosive start at the box office. The film, directed by Maruthi, has set the cash registers ringing from its very first day, posting impressive numbers that highlight the star's massive draw.
A Blockbuster Opening Day Collection
According to early estimates reported by the Sacnilk website, 'The Raja Saab' earned approximately Rs 45.00 crore in India net on its first day across all language versions. This formidable figure was further boosted by paid previews held on Thursday, which added another Rs 9.15 crore to the kitty. Consequently, the total opening day collection for the film stands at a staggering Rs 54.15 crore, marking one of the biggest starts for a Prabhas film in recent times.
Regional Breakdown and Occupancy Trends
The film's performance varied significantly across different linguistic markets, with its core Telugu audience leading the charge. In the Telugu states, the movie registered a robust overall occupancy of 57.16 percent. The viewership saw a notable upward trend as the day progressed: morning shows began at 50.92 percent, afternoon shows held steady at 50.82 percent, evening shows climbed to 57.70 percent, and night shows peaked at an impressive 69.20 percent.
In contrast, the Hindi version had a more modest opening, recording an overall occupancy of 15.63 percent. However, it showed positive growth throughout the day, starting from a low 7.47 percent in the morning and improving to 21.34 percent by the night shows. The Tamil market showed decent traction with an overall occupancy of 22.61 percent, with night shows nearing the 28 percent mark. Dolby Cinema screenings for the Telugu version also recorded a healthy 24.93 percent occupancy.
Cast, Crew, and Critical First Impressions
'The Raja Saab' features an ensemble cast including Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Boman Irani, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab in pivotal roles. An early review from ETimes notes that Prabhas appears comfortable in his role, embracing a lighter, flamboyant persona with relaxed confidence. The review states that his screen presence, timing, and easy charm remain the film's biggest assets, which fans are likely to enjoy.
However, the critique also points out that the film's narrative momentum occasionally suffers due to frequent pauses designed to spotlight star moments, making some portions feel drawn out. Despite this, the strong box office numbers indicate that the film has successfully connected with its target audience, particularly in its primary market. The opening day trend suggests that word-of-mouth and the star power of Prabhas have combined to create a winning formula at the ticket windows.
