Prabhas’ The RajaSaab Box Office: Strong Opening Weekend, Sharp Monday Drop Raises Questions

 Prabhas’ much-anticipated horror-comedy The RajaSaab, directed by Maruthi, hit theatres on January 9, 2026, perfectly timed for the lucrative Sankranti festival weekend. The film opened to solid numbers, driven largely by Prabhas’ massive fan base and festive footfalls. However, after a promising start, The RajaSaab witnessed a sharp decline at the box office on Monday, sparking discussions about its long-term performance.

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The RajaSaab Box Office Opening: A Promising Start

According to the film’s makers, The RajaSaab collected over ₹201 crore worldwide in just four days, an impressive figure that reflects strong weekend momentum. The opening days benefited from holiday advantage, aggressive promotions, and curiosity around Prabhas returning in a lighter, horror-comedy genre.

Independent trade tracker Sacnilk reports the film’s India net collection at ₹114.6 crore by Day 4, which aligns with expectations for a Sankranti release starring a pan-India star. The Telugu-speaking regions emerged as the biggest contributors, once again proving Prabhas’ dominance in his home market.

Monday Blues: 71% Drop Raises Red Flags

Despite the solid weekend, The RajaSaab suffered a steep 71% drop on Monday, collecting only ₹6.6 crore, compared to Sunday’s ₹19.1 crore. Such a sharp fall indicates that the film relied heavily on holiday crowds rather than sustained word-of-mouth.

While weekday drops are common after festival weekends, the magnitude of this decline has surprised trade analysts. The Hindi belt, in particular, underperformed, showing limited traction compared to Telugu markets, which continue to carry the film’s overall numbers.

Budget vs Breakeven: The Real Challenge Ahead

Mounted on a reported budget of ₹300 crore, The RajaSaab faces a steep uphill task. Trade estimates suggest the film needs around ₹410 crore worldwide to achieve breakeven. As of now, the movie has recovered approximately 38% of its total investment, making the coming weeks crucial.

With the holiday period now over, the film’s post-Sankranti hold will determine whether it can stabilize or continue its downward trend. Strong weekday occupancy, positive audience buzz, and minimal competition will be key factors in sustaining collections.

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Audience Response and Genre Factor

One of the talking points around The RajaSaab is its horror-comedy genre, which blends scares with humor. While this mix has worked well in the past, audience reactions appear mixed. Some viewers appreciate the lighter tone and Prabhas’ comic timing, while others expected a more intense narrative.

This divided response could be influencing repeat viewership, especially outside core Telugu markets. For a big-budget pan-India film, consistency across languages is critical—and that’s where The RajaSaab currently seems to be struggling.

What’s Next for The RajaSaab?

Going forward, the film’s performance will depend on:

• Weekday stability after the holiday period

• Growth (or lack of it) in Hindi and other dubbed versions

• Word-of-mouth among family audiences

• Second-weekend trend

If the film manages to hold decently during weekdays and sees a mild jump over the next weekend, it could still aim for a respectable lifetime total. Otherwise, the sharp Monday drop may prove to be an early warning sign.

Final Verdict

The RajaSaab started its box office journey on a strong note, but the significant Monday decline has added pressure on its long-term prospects. With a hefty budget and high breakeven point, the coming days will be critical in deciding whether Prabhas’ Sankranti release can turn things around or fall short of expectations.