After Raja Saab, Prabhas has rarely been exposed this badly, and the credit for that goes entirely to director Maruthi. This film stands as a textbook example of how unlimited budget, endless reshoots, and blind confidence cannot save a film with a weak story and poor execution. Rejected outright by audiences and crushed at the box office, the film will be remembered for wasting time, money, and most importantly, Prabhas’ hard-earned goodwill.
Raja Saab is not just about Maruthi’s worst content. It also brutally exposed Prabhas’ drawbacks as an actor and a star. A director’s primary responsibility is to highlight a hero’s strengths and hide weaknesses. In Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD, directors managed to hide his drawbacks and showcase his strengths and persona. The huge collections further acted as a cushion to defend Prabhas and hide his flaws.
But Maruthi failed on both counts. He destroyed Prabhas’ screen presence and failed to project him like the massive star he is. Instead, The Raja Saab turned into a showcase of everything that should not be done with a pan-India star.
Post release, the trolling has been massive and brutal. Hindi critics and YouTubers are especially mocking the excessive use of body doubles and head replacement shots. Thousands of screenshots from the film are circulating online, pointing out scenes where only Prabhas’ head is visible, but the body belongs to his dupe. Maruthi himself admitted to using body doubles, which only added fuel to the fire.
The comparison with Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu has further worsened things. At 70, Chiranjeevi performs his scenes, fights, and dances himself. Whether complex or simple, the effort is visible. That contrast has made Prabhas an easy target, and even his fans are struggling to defend him. This has turned the issue into a public embarrassment for Prabhas on pan-India level, once again all thanks to Maruthi.
After Baahubali, Prabhas had the world at his feet. Yet, his choices, Saaho, Radhe Shyam, Adipurush, and now The Raja Saab, show a worrying pattern. While Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD offered slight relief, this Raja Saab disaster is a massive dent to his credibility. Because of this damage, trade experts believe the potential of his upcoming films like Spirit might also suffer.
Prabhas needs strong directors with vision and spine, who can project him the way he needs to be projected. Otherwise, this cycle of hype, disappointment, and damage will continue. The warning bells are loud. If Prabhas does not introspect now, the doomsday is not far.
