Prabhas has once again proved his unmatched box office pull. His latest release, The RajaSaab, hit theatres on Friday, January 9, 2026, and opened to a massive Rs 54 crore on its first day, despite facing widespread criticism from audiences and critics alike.
Released across five languages — Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam — the film arrived with high expectations, largely due to Prabhas’ pan-India stardom. While word of mouth has been largely negative, the opening-day numbers tell a different story, highlighting the actor’s strong fan base and market power.
A Massive Day 1 Opening for The RajaSaab
Day 1 Box Office Numbers
According to early estimates, The RajaSaab collected approximately Rs 54 crore on its opening day across India. This makes it one of the biggest openers of 2026 so far and another strong addition to Prabhas’ list of high-opening films.
The film’s opening performance was driven primarily by:
- Advance bookings across major cities
- Strong fan-driven first-day-first-show attendance
- Wide pan-India release strategy
Even with mixed to poor reviews flooding social media, theatres saw packed shows on Friday, especially in Telugu-speaking states.
Language-Wise Performance on Opening Day
Telugu States Lead the Charge
The RajaSaab performed best in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where Prabhas enjoys an enormous fan following. Early morning shows saw high occupancy, boosted by fan celebrations, cutouts, and special screenings.
Hindi Belt Shows Mixed Results
In the Hindi market, the film opened decently but not exceptionally. While metro cities recorded moderate footfalls, single-screen theatres in smaller towns benefited from Prabhas’ popularity following Baahubali, Saaho, and Salaar.
Southern Dubbed Versions
The Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam versions registered average openings. While curiosity brought audiences to theatres on Day 1, mixed reactions began affecting occupancy by evening shows.
Negative Reviews Fail to Dent Opening Day Numbers
Audience Reaction Turns Critical
Despite the strong opening, The RajaSaab has largely received a negative response from moviegoers. Social media platforms were flooded with criticism shortly after the first shows concluded.
Common complaints include:
- Weak and outdated dialogues
- Inconsistent screenplay
- Poor-quality visual effects
- Tonal confusion between horror, comedy, and drama
Several viewers labeled the film a “cringe fest,” particularly criticizing its VFX-heavy sequences and exaggerated performances.
Why The RajaSaab Still Opened Big
The Prabhas Factor
Prabhas remains one of the few Indian actors who can guarantee a massive opening regardless of content. His loyal fan base ensures strong first-day numbers, often driven by advance bookings rather than reviews.
Smart Release Strategy
Releasing the film in five languages allowed it to tap into multiple markets simultaneously. This wide release helped maximize Day 1 collections even as negative word of mouth began spreading.
Holiday and Weekend Advantage
The film benefited from a Friday release, giving it a full opening weekend to capitalize on initial hype before reviews could significantly impact footfalls.
Budget and Expectations Set the Bar High
A High-Stakes Project
The RajaSaab was mounted on a large budget, reportedly involving extensive sets and visual effects. With such high production costs, the film requires strong and sustained box office performance to be considered a commercial success.
A Rs 54 crore opening provides a solid start, but long-term sustainability will depend on weekend trends and weekday hold.
Weekend Outlook: Can The RajaSaab Maintain Momentum?
Word of Mouth Could Be a Challenge
Negative reviews are expected to impact collections from Day 2 onwards. Historically, films with poor audience reception tend to see sharp drops after opening day, especially in urban centers.
Fans vs General Audience
While fans may continue to support the film over the weekend, neutral audiences are likely to wait or skip theatrical viewing altogether. This could result in a steep decline after Sunday.
Comparison With Prabhas’ Previous Openers
Strong Opening, Familiar Pattern
The RajaSaab follows a familiar trend seen in several recent Prabhas films — massive opening numbers followed by mixed or declining collections due to content issues.
Compared to his previous releases:
- The opening day figure is impressive
- The critical reception is weaker than expected
- Long-term box office performance remains uncertain
This again highlights the gap between star-driven openings and content-driven sustainability.
Trade Analysts Weigh In
Opening Numbers Are Not the Whole Story
Industry observers note that while a Rs 54 crore opening is undeniably strong, it does not guarantee profitability. For big-budget films, consistent collections over the first two weeks are crucial.
Trade experts believe:
- The weekend will be key in determining the film’s fate
- A sharp drop by Monday could signal trouble
- Overseas performance may offer some cushion
Overseas Performance Adds Support
Decent Start Internationally
The RajaSaab has also opened decently in overseas markets, particularly in the US, Gulf countries, and Australia, where Prabhas has a strong following among the Telugu diaspora.
However, early overseas reactions mirror domestic sentiment, which could affect collections after the opening weekend.
Social Media Buzz: Hype vs Reality
Mixed Trends Online
Hashtags related to The RajaSaab trended on social media throughout release day. While fans celebrated Prabhas’ screen presence and opening numbers, neutral viewers voiced disappointment over the film’s execution.
This split reaction reflects the broader challenge the film faces — strong star power versus weak storytelling.
What Lies Ahead for The RajaSaab
The Real Test Begins Now
Day 1 success has given The RajaSaab a solid platform, but the real test lies in audience retention. Films that rely heavily on star power often struggle to sustain collections when content fails to connect.
If collections drop sharply over the next few days, the film may end its run as an opening-driven performer rather than a long-term blockbuster.
Final Verdict After Day 1
The RajaSaab has delivered a massive Rs 54 crore opening on its first day, reaffirming Prabhas’ status as one of Indian cinema’s biggest crowd-pullers. However, negative reviews and audience criticism pose a serious challenge to the film’s long-term box office prospects.
While the opening numbers are impressive, the coming days will determine whether The RajaSaab can overcome poor word of mouth or follow the familiar trajectory of big openings followed by rapid declines. For now, Prabhas fans have reason to celebrate, but trade analysts remain cautious.
