Prabhas’ latest release ‘The Raja Saab’ has crossed the ₹100 crore mark worldwide within just two days, yet early indicators suggest that the horror-comedy may be battling mixed reception and declining momentum. The film, which finally hit cinemas on 9 January after multiple delays, opened to massive fanfare but witnessed a steep fall in collections on its second day.

After racking up an impressive ₹53.75 crore on its opening day, ‘The Raja Saab’ saw its Day 2 earnings dip significantly. Industry estimates place the film’s second-day haul between ₹23.77 crore and ₹27.83 crore across languages, signalling a clear drop in footfall.

Despite the slowdown, the film’s India net total after two days stands between ₹86.67 crore and ₹90.73 crore, depending on language-wise estimates. The India gross is reported at ₹108.4 crore, while the worldwide tally has reached ₹138.4 crore, buoyed by around ₹30 crore from overseas markets.

Telugu market holds strong

The Telugu version continues to drive the film’s performance, contributing ₹22.38 crore on Day 2 and pushing its two-day total to ₹78.68 crore. In comparison, the Hindi version collected ₹5.2 crore on Saturday, with a cumulative ₹11.2 crore so far.

Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam markets remained modest, generating ₹15 lakh, ₹6 lakh and ₹4 lakh respectively on Day 2. Their two-day totals stand at ₹55 lakh (Tamil), ₹16 lakh (Kannada) and ₹14 lakh (Malayalam).

Occupancy figures reinforce the slowdown. Telugu shows registered an overall 44 per cent occupancy on Saturday, with morning screenings starting low at 28.95 per cent before improving to over 51 per cent by night.

In contrast, the Hindi version performed considerably weaker, averaging 12.95 per cent occupancy through the day. Tamil screenings fared slightly better at 21.11 per cent overall, improving during evening and night shows.

Budget and salaries

Though not officially confirmed, industry reports indicate that The Raja Saab has been produced on an estimated budget of ₹400–450 crore, driven largely by its high-profile cast. A Moneycontrol report suggests that Prabhas, typically charging around ₹150 crore per film, agreed to a reduced fee of about ₹100 crore to allow more spending on sets and VFX.

Sanjay Dutt is reportedly earning ₹5–6 crore, while Anupam Kher is said to be receiving close to ₹1 crore. Among the female leads, Malavika Mohanan has allegedly been paid around ₹2 crore, with Nidhhi Agerwal earning between ₹1 crore and ₹1.5 crore. Riddhi Kumar is believed to have secured roughly ₹3 crore, and veteran comedian Brahmanandam about ₹80 lakh.

These figures highlight the significant financial backing behind the film and the scale of the gamble at the box office.

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Mixed reviews and missing scenes spark discussion

Though anticipation was high for Prabhas’ return to a lighter genre, reviews from critics and audiences have been divided. Some viewers appreciated the film’s comedic elements, while others felt it lacked the polish promised by its promotional material.

Adding to the chatter, several fans pointed out that certain scenes shown in the trailer were absent from the theatrical release. This prompted criticism on social media and pushed the makers to respond.

Makers revise film after feedback

At a press meet in Hyderabad, director Maruthi confirmed that changes were made to the movie following viewer reactions. He revealed that parts of the second half were re-edited for better pacing and that eight to nine minutes of new footage were added, including a sequence where Prabhas appears in an older look.

Maruthi expressed confidence that the updated version would provide a more engaging experience and praised Prabhas for his effort in shooting the additional scenes. The film features an ensemble including Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan and Riddhi Kumar, with music by Thaman S.