As the release date of The Raja Saab approaches, trade circles are increasingly worried about its box office prospects, mainly due to the unstoppable run of Dhurandhar, which continues to dominate theatres across India.
Even in its fourth week, Dhurandhar is showing no signs of fatigue. The film is rapidly heading toward the Rs. 1000 crore milestone just from India and is still pulling strong footfalls in both mass centers and multiplexes. This kind of sustained momentum has made exhibitors and distributors cautious about how any new release will perform against it.
Roshan Singh, a prominent exhibitor from Bihar, has openly expressed doubts about The Raja Saab in the North Indian market. According to him, the film has very limited buzz in the Hindi belt. He believes that even after its January 9 release, audiences in North India and even parts of the South may continue to prefer Dhurandhar, which remains the first choice for moviegoers.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh echoed similar concerns. He described Dhurandhar’s run as a tsunami and warned that going head-to-head with such a dominant film is extremely risky. When a film sustains week after week collections at this level, it naturally restricts screen availability and audience attention for new releases.
The Raja Saab’s recently released trailer has been received well, especially in the Telugu states. However, in Hindi, it has once again received a mixed response. There are some issues with Prabhas dubbing and the dialogues don’t leave the required impact. Director Maruthi is largely unknown in the Hindi belt. All three heroines also do not carry much weight in the Hindi mass belts. A more prominent Bollywood heroine would have added some extra appeal.
As of now, The Raja Saab is trending at around Rs. 7 to 8 crore opening day in Hindi. It is expected to open better than Radhe Shyam, but at less than half the level of Salaar or Kalki 2898 AD in the Hindi market. Crossing double digit opening figures organically will be difficult. However, if the content clicks and word of mouth turn positive, Prabhas’ pan India appeal could still help the film gain momentum in the days following its release and eventually the film can still turn out to be a success.
