Prabhas’ latest release, The Raja Saab, earned approximately Rs. 67 crore across India on its opening day.
While this figure ranks among the top twenty highest domestic openings of all time, the numbers are being viewed as underwhelming within the context of Tollywood’s high-stakes market.
The total includes Rs. 12 crore from Thursday previews and Rs. 55 crore on Friday. For Prabhas, this marks his second-lowest opening in recent years, trailing behind almost all his recent blockbusters except Radhe Shyam. In terms of actual ticket sales (admissions), it may even rank as his lowest start.
Earned Rs. 50 crore in Telugu region. While statistically the seventh-highest opening ever, it falls short of the Rs. 70 crore+ benchmark recently set by other big-budget films following ticket price hikes.
The film struggled elsewhere, with “washout” performances in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and a dull reception for the Hindi-dubbed version.
With a massive production budget exceeding Rs. 400 crore, the film faces a steep climb to profitability. While an upcoming holiday period offers a chance for recovery, lukewarm initial audience feedback has created an uphill battle for the horror-comedy.
