Mumbai — Prabhas has kicked off 2026 on a winning note. His latest release The Raja Saab recorded an impressive ₹19.19 crore India net collection on its opening day, firmly establishing itself as the biggest Day 1 opener for an Indian film in the past two years.
Despite mixed critical reception, the horror-comedy resonated strongly with Prabhas’ loyal fanbase, driving packed theatres from early morning shows across multiple regions.
A Slow Build That Turned Into a Massive Start
Expectations for the opening were initially modest. Advance bookings opened late, and the film’s genre — a family-friendly horror comedy — traditionally doesn’t deliver massive first-day numbers compared to action spectacles.
Yet by 5 PM on Friday, The Raja Saab had already crossed ₹19 crore, outperforming recent big releases and decisively overtaking Dhurandhar, which had dominated the box office for five consecutive weeks.
Notably, by 9 AM itself, The Raja Saab had already surpassed Dhurandhar’s previous day collection of ₹4.25 crore, marking a dramatic shift in box-office leadership.
How The Raja Saab Compares With Prabhas’ Previous Openers
While the opening is lower than Prabhas’ post-Baahubali mega launches such as:
- Kalki 2898 AD — ₹95 crore
- Salaar — ₹90 crore
- Adipurush — ₹86 crore
the current numbers are highly significant when viewed against the industry landscape of the past two years. The Raja Saab’s Day 1 collections are already poised to surpass the opening day figures of recent blockbusters like:
- Jawan — ₹64 crore
- Animal — ₹63 crore
- Leo — ₹64.80 crore
- Dhurandhar — ₹30 crore
Industry analysts describe the opening as one of the most surprising box-office turnarounds of 2026 so far.
Why The Film Is Generating So Much Interest
Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab marks Prabhas’ long-awaited return to the family entertainer genre after more than a decade. Since the Baahubali franchise, the actor had focused almost exclusively on large-scale action spectacles.
Fans across social media have been calling this phase the return of “Vintage Prabhas”, praising his lighter screen presence and emotional range.
The film also features a strong ensemble cast including:
Sanjay Dutt, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, and Zarina Wahab.
What Lies Ahead
With a robust opening and sustained occupancy expected through the weekend, trade experts believe The Raja Saab could post one of the strongest first-week totals of the year. Its long-term success will depend on word-of-mouth and repeat audience turnout, especially in family circuits.
One thing is already clear: Prabhas has once again proven his unmatched box-office pull.
