After months of anticipation and multiple delays, Prabhas’ latest release, The Raja Saab, finally made its grand theatrical debut on January 9. While the horror-comedy successfully shattered box office records, the opening day was marred by a dangerous fire incident at a theatre in Odisha.
Chaos at the cinema
The film’s release triggered an intense frenzy among fans, with many turning screenings into massive celebrations. However, the excitement took a turn at Ashoka Talkies in Rayagada, Odisha. During Prabhas’ grand entry scene, overenthusiastic fans reportedly lit lamps, performed aarti, and burst crackers inside the auditorium.
Fire broke out in the Ashok Talkies Hall in Rayagada
— Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) January 10, 2026
South superstar #Prabhas' film was playing in the hall
Incident during Prabhas' entry in the cinema
During Prabhas' entry, fans shouted and threw arrows in front of the screen.#Rayagada #FireIncinemahall #Odisha pic.twitter.com/88Nhh5ysDY
The sparks ignited confetti thrown by the crowd, causing a fire to break out right in front of the screen. As flames erupted, panic ensued, with many moviegoers rushing toward the exits. Fortunately, theatre staff and alert fans acted quickly to douse the fire. No injuries or casualties were reported, though the incident has sparked widespread criticism on social media regarding safety and fan decorum.
Raja Saab box office collections
On the commercial front, The Raja Saab has proven to be a formidable force. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, who pointed toward a disjointed screenplay and a lengthy three-hour runtime, the film’s star power carried it to a historic opening.
In its first 24 hours, the movie effectively ended the dominant five-week run of Ranveer Singh’s spy-thriller, Dhurandhar. While Dhurandhar saw its lowest daily collection yet, netting roughly Rs 3.5 crore on Friday, The Raja Saab surged ahead with an opening day collection estimated at RS 54.15 crore (including paid previews). Globally, the film reportedly crossed the ₹100 crore mark on Day 1, making Prabhas the first Indian actor to have six films achieve this feat.
Future box office predictions for Raja Saab
Despite the record-breaking start, the film faces a challenging road. Early estimates from the second day suggest a significant dip in collections as word-of-mouth begins to settle in. With a massive budget estimated between Rs 400 crore and Rs 450 crore, the film’s performance over the Sankranti holiday period will be critical in determining its long-term financial success.
As of now, the ‘Rebel Star’ continues to reign supreme over opening weekends, but industry experts are watching closely to see if the horror-comedy can maintain its momentum against the high-stakes festive competition.
About The Raja Saab
In the fantasy thriller The Raja Saab, Prabhas returns to the crowd-pleasing “mass entertainer” format, blending intense action with comedy. Joining him is an ensemble cast featuring Bollywood veteran Sanjay Dutt, alongside Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Boman Irani.