Prabhas’ latest fantasy‑horror comedy, The Raja Saab, turned into a box‑office ghost after opening on Sankranthi. The film, billed as a high‑budget spectacle, failed to pull crowds even though it boasted a ₹400 crore budget and a roster that includes Sanjay Dutt, Nidhi Agerwal and Malavika Mohanan.
The plot—an adventurous search for a missing grandfather that spirals into a haunted quest—was meant to offer a fresh blend of horror and comedy. Critics, however, slammed the screenplay as uneven and the pacing as sluggish, with many reviewers calling the tone jarring and the jokes flat. The negative reception turned the film into a cautionary tale for even big‑budget ventures.
During a press conference while promoting his next project, Garividi Lakshmi, TG Vishwa Prasad opened up about the flop. "One of the fundamental mistakes was releasing it during Sankranthi," he said, his voice tinged with regret. “The premiere was delayed, and we tried to raise ticket prices—our first film to do so. That decision pushed audiences away.” He added that the timing, coupled with logistical hiccups, had turned a promising venture into a financial headache.
The fallout from this misstep will echo in the industry’s release strategy. Producers will now weigh festival timing more carefully, and distributors may rethink price‑increases during peak seasons. For Prabhas, the setback is a reminder that even a star’s name cannot shield a film from the perils of poor timing and mixed reviews. Meanwhile, fans will keep an eye on what comes next, hoping for a better‑timed comeback.