The Raja Saab: Hindi opening turns shockingly low

Prabhas is among the very few South Indian stars who consistently command massive opening numbers in the North Indian market. Barring “Radhe Shyam,” all his films after Baahubali registered strong openings in the Hindi belt, earning him the reputation of being one of the biggest pan-Indian superstars.

After delivering solid Hindi hits with “Salaar” and “Kalki 2898 AD,” expectations were high for “The Raja Saab” to complete a hat-trick. However, the Maruthi-directed horror comedy has delivered a major shock in the Hindi market. The film opened to a meagre Rs 6 crore net for its Hindi version on day one.

What makes the performance more disappointing is the absence of competition. There was no major Hindi release or pan-Indian film hitting the screens on the same day. Despite this advantage, “The Raja Saab” failed to attract audiences beyond the Telugu market.

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The makers made a conscious effort to cater to North Indian viewers. Sanjay Dutt was cast as the main antagonist, veteran actress Zarina Wahab was brought in as the grandmother character, and even a classic song from Disco Dancer was remixed to appeal to Hindi audiences. Unfortunately, none of these strategies translated into box office traction.

With this underwhelming start, “The Raja Saab” has now recorded the lowest Hindi opening for a Prabhas film since Radhe Shyam, raising serious questions about its acceptance in the North Indian market.