Prabhas returned to the big screen with a Telugu horror comedy ‘The Raja Saab’, which finally arrived in cinemas on January 9, 2026, after a prolonged wait. Directed by Maruthi, the film opened to strong fanfare, packed early morning shows, and celebratory screenings across multiple cities. However, once the first shows ended, social media quickly became the battleground where sharply contrasting opinions began to pour in.
While some viewers praised the attempt to blend fantasy, horror, and comedy with a mainstream star at the centre, a large section of the audience expressed disappointment, criticising the film’s writing, pacing, and visual effects. The result is a deeply polarising first-day response that has set the tone for the film’s theatrical run.
Early reactions on X (formerly Twitter) reflect a wide spectrum of responses, ranging from enthusiastic support to outright rejection.
Shiva Kumar Grandhi (@sivakumargrandh), “Rajaa Saab is a good watch .. the set up is different to regular films .. except lags in few places , I liked the movie thoroughly .. Energetic #Prabhas is all you need on the screen. Go watch it.
Also people do complaint that we need new genres and when a star hero does , every intellectual says it doesn’t have mass and BS. Do encourage different films when heroes did so they can explore more genres.”
Rajaa Saab is a good watch .. the set up is different to regular films .. except lags in few places , I liked the movie thoroughly .. Energetic #Prabhas is all you need on the screen. Go watch it.
— Shiva Kumar Grandhi (@sivakumargrandh) January 8, 2026
Also people do complaint that we need new genres and when a star hero does ,… pic.twitter.com/0WcluszVHc
Venky Reviews (@venkyreviews), “#TheRajaSaab A Horror/Fantasy Drama with an interesting concept and an energetic Prabhas, but a clumsy and disjointed screenplay make it tiresome!
The core concept is intriguing, and a few sequences built around it work well, especially the pre-climax. However, the commercial elements feel outdated and test patience throughout the film. The disjointed screenplay by Maruti, combined with choppy editing, hampers the flow.”
#TheRajaSaab A Horror/Fantasy Drama with an interesting concept and an energetic Prabhas, but a clumsy and disjointed screenplay make it tiresome!
— Venky Reviews (@venkyreviews) January 8, 2026
The core concept is intriguing, and a few sequences built around it work well, especially the pre-climax. However, the commercial…
naman. (@SRKzKabir), “Rating: ⭐ (1/5), Verdict: ULTRA DISASTER #TheRajaSaab is an absolute disaster. Unbearable from start to finish, the film feels like a confused mess with no soul, no logic, and no excitement. The story is paper-thin, poorly written, and stretched painfully just to fill runtime.”
Rating: ⭐ (1/5)
— naman. (@SRKzKabir) January 8, 2026
Verdict: ULTRA DISASTER#TheRajaSaab is an absolute disaster.
Unbearable from start to finish, the film feels like a confused mess with no soul, no logic, and no excitement. The story is paper-thin, poorly written, and stretched painfully just to fill runtime. pic.twitter.com/jeavDzX8ZR
𝙆𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉 𝙆𝙆 (@LastSRKian), “DISASTER RAJA SAAB 1/5 🌟 Completely Disappointed By #Prabhas No Story Nothing Full Torture Boring Heading Towards 3cr Nett Opening In Hindi Disaster 💔 💔 #TheRajaSaab”
DISASTER RAJA SAAB 1/5 🌟
— 𝙆𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉 𝙆𝙆 (@LastSRKian) January 9, 2026
Completely Disappointed By #Prabhas No Story Nothing Full Torture Boring
Heading Towards 3cr Nett Opening In Hindi Disaster 💔 💔 #TheRajaSaab pic.twitter.com/g13hQ18oKY
Madhan Mohan T (@IamMadhanMohan), “#TheRajaSaab Review: A complete entertainer that delivers on fun, energy, and emotions. Prabhas shines in a refreshing, vintage avatar with excellent comic timing, reminding us why his screen presence is unmatched. Maruthi’s narration keeps the film engaging, especially in the second half, where the momentum really picks up.”
#TheRajaSaab Review:⁰A complete entertainer that delivers on fun, energy, and emotions. Prabhas shines in a refreshing, vintage avatar with excellent comic timing, reminding us why his screen presence is unmatched. Maruthi’s narration keeps the film engaging, especially in the… pic.twitter.com/uhQ9wc2m0e
— Madhan Mohan T (@IamMadhanMohan) January 8, 2026
Kittu (@KKs_Take), “The core idea of #RajaSaab , ‘illusions Vs emotions’ is quite intriguing. It features some crazy concepts like an ‘evil grandfather–innocent grandmother’, a haunted mansion with hidden treasure, elephants, a crocodile, and even a Komodo dragon. Despite having all the right ingredients, Rajasaab falters due to a clichéd narrative, unnecessary detours, and the atrocious use of body doubles, especially in the first half.”
The core idea of #RajaSaab , “illusions Vs emotions” is quite intriguing. It features some crazy concepts like an “evil grandfather–innocent grandmother”, a haunted mansion with hidden treasure, elephants, a crocodile, and even a Komodo dragon. Despite having all the right… pic.twitter.com/BEqhRYDpLv
— Kittu (@KKs_Take) January 9, 2026
THE DRT CUT (@DiveshVsReality), “THE RAJA SAAB Review crashes harder than its VFX! 😬 #Prabhas𓃵 stuck in irritating South masala mode with awful visuals — we loved him as Bahubali/Salaar king, not this weak joker! Sanjay Dutt's performance. Direction, acting, everything FLAT. 2/5 stars max. #TheRaajaSaab”
THE RAJA SAAB Review crashes harder than its VFX! 😬 #Prabhas𓃵 stuck in irritating South masala mode with awful visuals — we loved him as Bahubali/Salaar king, not this weak joker!Sanjay Dutt's performance.
— THE DRT CUT (@DiveshVsReality) January 9, 2026
Direction, acting, everything FLAT. 2/5 stars max. #TheRaajaSaab pic.twitter.com/BY17nhbuxX
Jiya Rahman (@jiyathedon), “#TheRajaSaab | 1, Easily the worst #Prabhas film after Rebel. This time, even the face VFX does him no favors distracting AF. I honestly don’t know what justified this kind of budget, because none of it shows up where it matters. There’s zero effort in the writing to match the so-called grandeur on display. Big sets, loud moments, and absolutely nothing holding it together. Style without substance, stretched beyond patience. Starting 2026 with a film this lifeless is just painful. So BAD n PATHETIC”
#TheRajaSaab | 1
— Jiya Rahman (@jiyathedon) January 9, 2026
Easily the worst #Prabhas film after Rebel. This time, even the face VFX does him no favors distracting AF. I honestly don’t know what justified this kind of budget, because none of it shows up where it matters.There’s zero effort in the writing to match the… pic.twitter.com/iHlj2APtx8
Mounted on a reported budget of Rs 300 crore, the film features Malavika Mohanan in her Telugu debut, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar and Zarina Wahab. With word of mouth now sharply divided, its box office performance will depend heavily on how neutral audiences respond over the weekend.
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