Prabhas’ Raja Saab is set to release in another 40 hours in Hindi. However, the low buzz in the North is worrying fans because Prabhas enjoys an unmatched market in Bollywood compared to other Telugu heroes. Even disasters like Saaho and Adipurush crossed 100 crores net in Hindi.
Films like Salaar and Kalki also delivered decently in Hindi. With such a track record, the level of marketing required for Raja Saab should have been obvious. However, apart from launching a song featuring the three heroines in Mumbai without Prabhas, the team did not execute any major promotional activity.
Because of these factors, Bollywood trade experts believe that the film failed to generate strong pre-release interest among North audiences. They blame not so great songs and trailers and weak promotions as the main reasons for zero hype.
The confidence behind Raja Saab rests on one belief. If the film turns out to be extraordinary, it does not need aggressive publicity. Audiences will support it on their own. The recent example of Dhurandhar, which started with dull openings but later became an all-India blockbuster, supports this idea.
Bollywood audiences already show strong interest in the horror genre. Films like Stree 2, Munjya, and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 earned heavily despite lacking big stars. In contrast, Raja Saab features Prabhas. If positive word of mouth emerges after release, the film will automatically gain momentum. However, it needs unanimous positive feedback to sustain its success strongly.
If the film fails in Hindi, even if Prabhas delivers blockbusters with his next films like Spirit, the common perception would be that Prabhas cannot deliver success at a pan India level without the help of big directors and massive scale.
If the film struggles to even open at Rs. 10 crores net in Hindi, that shortfall could remain a permanent black mark on his career. No matter how many successes he delivers later, such an opening would be cited repeatedly as evidence against his solo pan-India pull. In the long run, perception matters, and an opening of less than 10 crores could overshadow Prabhas’ future achievements. This would not be a good narrative for a star who is hailed as India’s Biggest Superstar by his fans.
