The much-anticipated horror-comedy starring pan-India superstar Prabhas, The Raja Saab, has kicked off its theatrical run with a robust opening day collection. Despite receiving a mixed bag of reviews from critics, the film's commercial performance on its first Friday has managed to create a significant buzz by outperforming a recent major blockbuster.
A Powerful Opening Despite Mixed Reviews
According to data released by the industry tracker Sacnilk, The Raja Saab garnered an impressive ₹45 crore net in India on its first day. When the earnings from paid previews held a day earlier are included, the film's total net collection climbs to an even more substantial ₹54.15 crore. This day-one figure has allowed the Prabhas-starrer to comfortably cross the opening day collection of the blockbuster Dhurandhar, which had netted ₹28 crore.
Regional Breakdown: Telugu Heartland Dominates
The film witnessed its strongest response in its primary market, the Telugu-speaking states. It recorded an overall occupancy of 57.16% in the Telugu belt on Friday. The viewership remained steady through the first half, with morning shows at 50.92% and afternoon shows at 50.82%, before gaining momentum later in the day. Evening show occupancy rose to 57.70%, and night shows peaked at a strong 69.20%.
In terms of screen count, Bengaluru led with 980 shows, closely followed by Hyderabad with 976 shows. Other major Telugu markets included Vizag (339 shows) and Vijayawada (249 shows). While Hyderabad recorded a high 76% occupancy, Vizag emerged as a standout performer with an 82% occupancy rate despite having fewer screenings.
Tamil and Hindi Markets Show Varied Response
The reception in the Tamil market was more modest, with an overall day-one occupancy of 22.61%. The numbers saw a gradual increase from 19.25% in the morning to a peak of 27.87% during night shows. Chennai was the biggest market for the Tamil version with 196 shows. Interestingly, smaller cities like Trichy (31.25%), Vellore (30.50%), and Pondicherry (29.25%) posted some of the highest occupancy rates. Bengaluru's Tamil audience, however, showed the weakest interest with only 8% occupancy.
In the Hindi belt, the film had a relatively slower start, registering an overall occupancy of approximately 15.63%. It opened at 7.47% in morning shows but saw consistent growth, climbing to 15.46% in the afternoon, 18.26% in the evening, and 21.34% at night. The Delhi NCR region had the highest number of Hindi screenings (789 shows), followed by Mumbai (582 shows) and Ahmedabad (442 shows). Bengaluru, with limited Hindi shows, recorded the strongest occupancy at 22%, while cities like Kolkata (11%) and Surat (10.5%) showed muted interest.
Where Does It Stand in Prabhas' Post-Pandemic Filmography?
While the opening is formidable in absolute terms, it places The Raja Saab as Prabhas' lowest opener since the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to his other major post-pandemic releases. The film's ₹45 crore day-one net is lower than the openings of Salaar (₹90 crore), Kalki 2898 AD (₹95 crore), and Adipurush (₹86 crore). The film's performance over the crucial first weekend will now be key in determining its long-term box office trajectory and whether it can build on its solid, if not record-breaking, start.
