The Raja Saab (2026) movie poster - Action film directed by Maruthi Dasari

The Raja Saab Movie Review (2026)

Action Movie20263h 10mDirected by Maruthi Dasari

Our Rating

3.8/5

The Raja Saab Movie Plot & Story

The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas and directed by Maruthi, was released worldwide on January 9, 2026. While it opened with significant hype during the Sankranti festive season, it has faced a challenging theatrical run due to high production costs and mixed audience reception. Star Cast The film features an ensemble cast from both the South and Hindi film industries: Prabhas: In the lead role as Raja Saab. Sanjay Dutt: Playing a pivotal role as his grandfather, Kanakaraju. Malavika Mohanan: Making her Telugu debut as Bhairavi. Nidhhi Agerwal: As Bessy. Boman Irani: Playing Dr. Padmabhushan. Riddhi Kumar & Zarina Wahab: In supporting roles. Supporting Comedy: Features industry veterans like Brahmanandam, Yogi Babu, and Vennela Kishore. Box Office Collection (as of January 19, 2026) The film started strong but saw a steep decline after its opening weekend. Opening Day: Approximately ₹53.75 crore (India Net). Total India Collection (10 Days): Estimated at ₹139 – ₹146 crore. Worldwide Gross: Approximately ₹179 – ₹196 crore. Budget: Reportedly mounted on a massive budget of ₹400 – ₹450 crore. Verdict: Trade analysts currently label the film a "box office failure" or "disaster" because its collections are significantly lower than the recovery required for its high budget. Reviews and Reception The film has received mixed to negative reviews from both critics and audiences: The Positives: Critics praised the high production values, visual effects, and the initial curiosity surrounding Prabhas’s new "vintage" look. The Negatives: Most reviews pointed toward a weak script, inconsistent pacing, and a "clumsy" blend of horror and comedy. Some viewers felt the runtime (over 3 hours) was too long and that the "face-swap" technology used in certain scenes felt artificial. Audience Word-of-Mouth: While the "Rebel Star" fans showed up in large numbers initially, the general audience interest faded quickly, leading to low occupancy in the second week.

Director

Maruthi Dasari

Production

People Media Factory IVY Entertainment

Budget

₹400–450 crore

Box Office

₹201 crore

The Raja Saab Movie Cast & Crew

Prabhas as Raju Raja SaabSanjay Dutt as Pekamedala KanakarajuRaju s grandfatherNidhhi Agerwal as BessyMalavika Mohanan as BhairaviRiddhi Kumar as AnithaZarina Wahab as Gangadevi Kanakaraju GangammaRaju s grandmother and Kanakaraju s wifeAmmu Abhirami as young GangadeviSamuthirakani as GangarajuBhairavi’s grandfatherBoman Irani as Dr. PadmabhushanVTV Ganesh as Mangalam BabaiPrabhas Sreenu as Autodriver SeenuSaptagiri as Brother RIPBessy’s aideSatya as WardenRajitha as Raju’s auntHarsha Chemudu as KareemullaRaju’s friendMahesh Achanta as MaheshRaju’s assistantRohit Pathak as BhairaagiSupreeth Reddy as ThiefRonson Vincent as GoonNanda Gopal MK as Police SIManisha Kandkur as Bessy’s friendVadlamani Srinivas as Gangadevi’s fatherAnandhi as lady at carnival