Prabhas’ much-awaited film ‘The Raja Saab’ finally arrived in cinemas on 9 January 2026, drawing large crowds across India and overseas. The Telugu horror-comedy, directed by Maruthi Dasari, entered theatres amid considerable anticipation, fuelled by months of hype, early premiere screenings and a solo festival window after ‘Jana Nayagan’ postponed its release.

The film, backed by TG Vishwa Prasad under People Media Factory in association with Ivy Entertainment, features a star-studded ensemble including Nidhhi Agerwal, Sanjay Dutt, Riddhi Kumar, Malavika Mohanan and Boman Irani.

Early screenings spark online buzz

Special premiere shows held on 8 January in select cities allowed a small group of viewers to watch ‘The Raja Saab’ ahead of the global release. Within minutes of the first shows concluding, social media—particularly X (formerly Twitter)—was flooded with viewer reactions.

With Prabhas leading the cast, expectations were already towering. Many early reactions focused on the film’s latter portion, with several users praising the second half and the climax.

Twitter reviews

One viewer wrote, "#TheRajaSaab is a master piece . That last 40 minutes from hospital scene is First half beautifully builds for this grandeur The Graphics & VfX is of Hollywood standards. It’s an experience to be felt in cinema Verdict :Outstanding, never before in Indian cinema #Prabhas."

Another user posted, "Good first half and super 2nd half with Rebelstar one man show. Liked it & a blockbuster sankranthi loading #TheRajaSaab."

Several fans described the film as a “one man show”, applauding Prabhas’ performance. Another reviewer said, "Excellent!! #TheRajaSaab works for me more than any other prabhas films in the last 7 years. Maruthi hit it out of the park with Horror fantasy, credit to him for exploring this kind of genre and actually doing a great job."

Mixed feedback emerges despite strong hype

Despite positive reactions from a section of viewers, ‘The Raja Saab’ also drew criticism from some who felt the opening half lacked impact. A few users noted that the screenplay seemed stretched, with questions raised about the writing and narrative coherence. Some pointed out that the second half would determine how the film performs in the longer run.

The film’s strong pre-release momentum was evident in its advance bookings. Industry tracker Sacnilk estimated that the movie earned ₹5.66 crore from advance sales in India. With more than 9,000 screenings arranged nationwide and no major competitors on release day, distributors were hopeful of a robust opening.

Plot and cast: Prabhas leads a horror-fantasy adventure

Mounted on a reported budget of ₹300 crore, ‘The Raja Saab’ marks Malavika Mohanan’s Telugu debut and features Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Zarina Wahab and Boman Irani in key roles.

The story revolves around a young, ambitious man who hopes to sell his grandfather’s old mansion–only to uncover supernatural forces and hidden secrets within the property. The narrative promises a blend of mystery, emotion and conflict, set within Maruthi’s first attempt at a full-scale horror-fantasy.