The Raja Saab Box Office Collection Day 1: Prabhas Film Opens with Decent Numbers Worldwide

Prabhas' latest horror-comedy The Raja Saab has opened in theatres with steady numbers at the box office. As per early trade estimates from Sacknik, The Raja Saab box office collection Day 1 so far stands at around ₹15.34 crore net in India across all languages.

Released worldwide on January 9, 2026, the film arrived during the Sankranthi festive window, raising expectations for a strong opening. Made on a reported budget of ₹400 crore, The Raja Saab is being positioned as the most expensive horror-comedy in Indian cinema.

The Raja Saab opened with a strong regional divide in occupancy on Day 1, Friday, January 9, 2026. The film recorded an overall 50.92% Telugu occupancy in morning shows and afternoon 50.82%, driven by impressive turnout in core Andhra Pradesh and Telangana markets, with cities like Vizag (85%), Kakinada (84%), Karimnagar (83%), Vijayawada (73%) and Hyderabad (71%) leading the charge, while metros such as Bengaluru (29%), Chennai (26%) and Mumbai (21%) showed moderate response.

In sharp contrast, the Hindi version saw a muted start with just 7.47% overall occupancy in morning shows, and virtually no reported attendance in afternoon, evening or night slots so far, with key regions like NCR (6%), Mumbai (9%), Pune (9%) and Kolkata (4%) reflecting weak traction, indicating that the film's opening-day momentum is currently concentrated largely in Telugu-speaking belts.

The Raja Saab Day 1 Collection Worldwide

In international markets, the film posted encouraging advance booking figures ahead of release. The Raja Saab reportedly earned close to USD 2 million in advance bookings for its opening weekend, with approximately USD 1.77 million coming from opening-day advances alone.

Trade circles also point out that the film benefited from an increase in shows following the postponement of Jana Nayagan, helping boost its opening-day reach overseas. With these numbers, the Raja Saab Day 1 collection worldwide reflects a moderate but promising start.

The Raja Saab Movie Release Date and Key Details

Movie: The Raja Saab

Release Date: January 9, 2026

Director: Maruthi

Producer: People Media Factory

Music Director: Thaman S

The film features Prabhas in the lead, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Boman Irani, and Riddhi Kumar in prominent roles.

Audience Response and Early Reviews

Early audience reactions to The Raja Saab are mixed. Many viewers appreciated Prabhas' return to a light-hearted, comic-driven role, praising his energy, mass introduction, and screen presence. Several fans described the performance as a reminder of "Vintage Prabhas."

The music composed by Thaman S has emerged as one of the film's highlights. Viewers felt the background score enhanced emotional moments, particularly during the extended climax sequence, which reportedly runs for nearly 40 minutes and unfolds inside a haunted theatre filled with supernatural challenges.

However, criticism has also surfaced around the film's CGI and visual effects, with some viewers feeling that inconsistent VFX affected the theatrical experience. A section of the audience also pointed out pacing issues and length, suggesting the screenplay could have been tighter.

Story and Overall Buzz

The Raja Saab revolves around a greedy young man who plans to sell his grandfather's old mansion, only to uncover dark supernatural secrets hidden within the property. The narrative blends horror, comedy, mystery, and emotional elements, aiming to cater to festive audiences.

While some social media users praised the first half and the core idea, others noted flaws in writing and execution, calling the film lengthy with uneven storytelling. Despite the mixed talk, curiosity around Prabhas' new avatar continues to pull audiences into theatres.

Box Office Outlook

With the Sankranthi holiday period and weekend advantage ahead, trade analysts expect the Raja Saab collection to witness movement over the next few days. Much will depend on word-of-mouth and audience reception in the crucial second half.

For now, The Raja Saab box office collection Day 1 indicates a decent opening, with the coming weekend set to determine the film's long-term box office fate.