New Delhi/Mumbai, January 8, 2026 — As The Raja Saab, the highly anticipated horror‑comedy starring Prabhas, gears up for its January 9 theatrical release, advance booking figures are painting a vivid and somewhat unpredictable pre‑release picture that industry insiders are calling “a thrilling cliffhanger before the premiere night.”
The film has already crossed the ₹3.5 crore mark in advance tickets nationwide, hinting at a strong opening weekend — but with intriguing twists unfolding on both domestic and global fronts.
First Look at Numbers: A Promising Start With Nuanced Detail
Long before The Raja Saab graces cinema screens, ticket buyers have shown eager interest. According to data aggregated by Sacnilk and industry trackers:
- The film grossed ₹2.38 crore from Telugu 2D advance bookings, selling nearly 85,000 tickets across more than 1,300 shows.
- In Hindi 2D, the numbers were modest — roughly ₹3.76 lakh from close to 3,700 tickets.
- Premium formats told a different story: Hindi Dolby Cinema screens earned over ₹1.12 crore alone from nearly 41,000 tickets sold.
- Across all languages and formats, the pre‑release ticket tally surpassed 1,29,000 seats, generating about ₹3.55 crore in gross collections.
- When blocked seats (bulk‑booked seats for distributors and exhibitors) are factored in, total advance business swells to an estimated ₹8.6 crore ahead of release.
This blend of figures suggests strong regional support, particularly in Telugu‑speaking markets, and significant interest in premium viewing experiences.
Ticket Price Twist: Government Approvals Add Fuel to the Fire
Part of the advance booking buzz comes from a strategic ticket price hike approved by the Andhra Pradesh government. Paid premiere shows — starting January 8, a day before the official release — have been capped at ₹1,000 per ticket, while regular shows opening January 9 will see elevated prices for the first ten days. Single‑screen tickets now hover around ₹297, and multiplex seats are pegged at roughly ₹377 for the premium opening window.
The decision allows up to five shows per day during this period, a push designed to capitalize on festive attendances and regional anticipation — and it carries real impact, especially in strongholds like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Competition and Comparisons: Where The Raja Saab Stands
While The Raja Saab’s advance figures are eye‑catching, they exist within a broader box office battle:
- Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar — a Hindi blockbuster now deep in its theatrical run — continues to dwarf The Raja Saab in total collections, setting Monday box office records with tens of crores in daily revenue.
- Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan remains a formidable rival in pre‑release appeal: its overseas advance bookings have outpaced The Raja Saab in key international markets, demonstrating strong diaspora interest and theatrical pull ahead of release.
In North America alone, Jana Nayagan reportedly earned approximately $350,000 in premiere advance sales, compared with roughly $305,000 for The Raja Saab — despite The Raja Saab securing a wider spread of screens.
This unexpected twist adds pressure and anticipation around the Pongal holiday weekend box office, especially since both films are vying for the same festive audience.
Overseas Buzz: Growing Momentum Beyond Borders
Despite some competition, The Raja Saab has seen meaningful traction among international audiences:
- North American advance and premiere pre‑sales are reported to have crossed $1.1 million (about ₹9 crore) in early figures, reflecting strong interest in the overseas market, particularly in major metro areas.
- Broader overseas pre‑sales, including the UK, Europe, Australia and the Gulf, are reportedly pushing past the $1.7 million threshold, suggesting a solid diaspora appetite for the film’s unique genre blend of horror, fantasy and comedy.
This international momentum could play a decisive role in overall opening weekend collections, especially if local word‑of‑mouth and early reviews amplify interest.
A Star‑Studded Cast and Genre Gamble
Part of The Raja Saab’s appeal lies in its ensemble cast and genre shift:
- Prabhas anchors the project, stepping into a horror‑comedy hybrid — a departure from his usual massive action blockbusters. www.ndtv.com
- The film also features Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Zarina Wahab and Nidhhi Agerwal in key roles, giving it a pan‑Indian flavor that blends seasoned performers with emerging talent.
- Technical credits include music by SS Thaman, cinematography by Karthik Palani, and production design led by Rajeevan, promising an atmospheric and visually rich cinematic experience.
Together, the casting and production values position The Raja Saab as more than a typical star‑vehicle — it’s a creative experiment that could redefine mass‑market regional cinema’s approach to genre.
Fan Fever: From Hyderabad to Hollywood Screens
Fan engagement has been palpable in the run‑up to release, with Prabhas’s fandom showing unusual early enthusiasm:
- Social media buzz began months ago, with US fans tracking early advance sales and celebrating strong pre‑sales weeks ahead of schedule. Reddit
- Commentary threads online show both hype and rivalry — some fans cheer the fight against competing films, while others joke about genre expectations and jokes about the film’s direction ahead of release day.
Whether this translates to packed opening shows across multiplexes and single screens remains to be seen — but the conversation itself has become part of the film’s release narrative.
The Final Act: Expectations for Opening Weekend
At this final stage before theatrical launch, projections vary widely:
- Some trade analysts believe The Raja Saab could cross ₹7 crore or more on its opening day if last‑minute bookings surge and holiday crowds turn out.
- Others suggest the film’s first week will be crucial, with audience reactions and competition from Jana Nayagan likely to shape long‑term box office momentum.
In short, The Raja Saab is no longer just an upcoming release — it’s a box office battleground, where festival timing, pricing strategies, advance booking performance and fan enthusiasm will all collide to determine whether the film lives up to its pre‑release hype.
What to Watch Tomorrow
As theaters open nationwide on January 9, 2026:
- Paid premieres on January 8 will set the first real test of audience demand.
- Advance booking trends suggest a strong opening day, especially in Telugu‑dominant regions.
- Overseas market performance, particularly in North America, will be closely watched as a barometer of global appeal.
Whether The Raja Saab becomes a festival box office champion — or is overshadowed by rivals — will unfold in the coming days, but one thing is clear: the cinematic story around the film has already become one of the year’s biggest entertainment sagas.
