Fake or real? Are Prabhas fans really carrying huge ‘crocodiles’ for The Raja Saab premiere? | WATCH
Fans of Telugu superstar Prabhas created a viral spectacle at screenings of his latest film, The Raja Saab, on January 9, carrying fake crocodile props into theatres across India. While videos showing enthusiastic fans holding dummy crocodiles above their heads while rushing into cinema halls flooded social media, fact-checkers revealed that not all the viral footage was authentic.
The unusual celebration was inspired by a trailer scene where Prabhas's character engages in an intense fight with a crocodile and throws the animal during the sequence. According to NewsMeter's fact check, of three widely circulated videos, only one clip showing fans with crocodile props was genuine, while two others were AI-generated. The Hindustan Times also noted inconsistencies in some viral videos, including glitchy footage with seats facing different directions and missing hands.
Film Opens to Mixed Reviews, Strong Box Office
The Raja Saab, a horror-fantasy directed by Maruthi, released nationwide on January 9 in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam. According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the film earned approximately Rs 45 crore on its opening day across all languages, with paid previews on January 8 contributing an additional Rs 9.15 crore, bringing the total opening to Rs 54.15 crore.
Also read: Reddit reviews The Raja Saab
The film stars Prabhas alongside Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab. Mounted on a reported budget of Rs 300-400 crore, the movie follows a young man searching for his missing grandfather who encounters sinister forces in a haunted mansion.
Chaotic Premiere Adds to Release Drama
The film's release was preceded by chaotic scenes at theatres in Hyderabad on January 8, when premiere shows scheduled for 9 pm were delayed due to permission-related issues. At one of the theatres, frustrated fans stormed into the hall during a media screening and refused to leave until the film was shown. Videos showed crowds gathering outside venues, with some fans banging on buses passing by the theatres, where the show was cancelled.
The Raja Saab received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with praise directed at Prabhas's attempt at comedy but criticism aimed at the film's disjointed screenplay, uneven pacing, and visual effects. India TV rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "an ambitious horror-fantasy that relies more on emotions than on fear".