The Raja Saab — the Telugu horror-comedy directed by Maruthi — opened amid huge expectations on January 9, 2026. With star power, a festive Sankranti release window, and a massive pan-India dubbed rollout, the film had one of the most talked-about openings of the year.
But as the first week progressed, The Raja Saab’s box office showed a sluggish trend compared to expectations and other Sankranti contenders — especially Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu which raced past it in just six days.
Let’s break down how the film performed day-by-day, what the numbers look like, and what the current outlook is.
Opening & Early Days: A Mixed Start
Opening Day:
The Raja Saab launched with a big opening in India, thanks to advance bookings and paid previews. According to Sacnilk data, the film collected around ₹53.75 crore net domestically on Day 1, and including paid previews, total earnings were ₹54 crore+.
Reportedly, around ₹100 crore+ worldwide was also achieved on Day 1, thanks to overseas takings including the US market.
Day 2:
Collections dipped significantly on Saturday, with estimates around ₹26–27.8 crore net in India.
Day 3:
Sunday brought moderate numbers — estimates suggested around ₹19–20 crore in India, pushing the cumulative past the ₹100 crore milestone domestically early in the weekend.
Day 4:
On Monday, collections dropped sharply, with reports indicating around ₹5.4 crore net in India, taking the film to approximately ₹108 crore total.
Day-Wise Collection Table (India Net Estimate)
| Day | India Net Box Office (₹ Crore, Approx) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 53.75 |
| 2 | 26.00 |
| 3 | 20.00 |
| 4 | 5.40 |
| 5 | 4.85 |
| 6 | 5.25 |
| 7 | 5.5 |
| 8 | 3.5 |
| 9 | 2.86 |
Note: Exact day-wise figures beyond Day 6 vary across trade trackers; this table uses the most consistent daily estimates currently available.
As of Day 9, multiple news reports confirm that The Raja Saab stands at around ₹136 crore total at the box office.
Despite the strong Day-1 numbers, the week saw a steep drop, with Sunday-to-weekday declines typical of films lacking strong word-of-mouth traction.
Graph Idea: Daily Trend (India Net)
The Raja Saab Box Office Collection – Day Wise
Overseas Performance & Overall Reach
While domestic numbers were front-page material, overseas performance has been moderate. Early reports suggested around USD 2.6 million (~₹23.5 crore) from the US on opening day, showing that Prabhas still draws attention outside India, though not at mega-blockbuster levels.
The worldwide tally didn’t explode past ₹200 crore early as some had hoped — a sign that international markets reacted more tepidly than domestic. Trade analysts also noted slower holds across key territories.
What Happened After the Opening Weekend?
Several trends shaped The Raja Saab’s box office story:
1. Mixed Reviews & Word-of-Mouth
Despite a strong fan-driven opening, critics and audience reactions were divided, especially regarding pacing and genre blend, affecting later days’ traction.
2. Sharp Weekday Drops
The film saw significant declines in weekdays, particularly from Day 4 onward — a pattern typical of films that lean heavily on initial fandom rather than sustained appeal.
3. Competitive Festival Releases
Other Sankranti releases — especially Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu — outperformed The Raja Saab in early weeks, drawing audience share away.
Final Verdict: Box Office Outcome
As of the latest available data:
- Opening Day: Excellent start
- Weekend: Solid, but not blockbuster momentum
- Week 1: Slower than expected growth
- Total Till Day 9: ~₹136 crore (est.) at the box office
Industry insiders now classify The Raja Saab as a commercially under-whelming film relative to its star power and Sankranti release window — a rare box office soft performance for a Prabhas pan-India outing.
Key Takeaways for Readers
👍 Strong Opening Powered by Star Value — Prabhas’ fan following ensured a big opening day.
📉 Drop in Weekday Numbers — Mixed reviews and competition led to steep declines after the first weekend.
🌍 Moderate Overseas Response — Decent US start, but not blockbuster-level internationally.
📊 Total Collection vs Expectations — The film’s ~₹136 crore total is solid but below what a pan-India Prabhas film typically targets.