Tollywood
The Raja Saab Runtime Update: Prabhas Starrer Trimmed from Over 3 Hours to Keep Audiences Engaged
BY CHRISTA LINCY
In a significant update for fans eagerly awaiting Prabhas's next big-screen outing, The Raja Saab, the film's runtime has been shortened by 15-20 minutes. The decision, as reported by the popular entertainment handle @AlwaysBollywood, was a conscious call by superstar Prabhas and director Maruthi to ensure a more engaging and appealing cinematic experience for the audience. Initially, the horror comedy was clocking in at a runtime of over three hours. However, the final duration is now expected to be around 2 hours and 55 minutes (175 minutes), aiming for a tighter narrative.This move comes amidst high anticipation for the film, which is slated for a grand worldwide release on January 9, 2026, with paid premieres scheduled in India on January 8th. The advance bookings for The Raja Saab have opened on a promising note in international markets. In North America and the United Kingdom, the film has already sold over 17,500 tickets each, indicating a solid start. As of early January, the premiere advance sales in the USA had crossed over $425,000. The film is facing stiff competition from Thalapathy Vijay's Jana Nayagan, which is also releasing on the same day. Both films are locked in a tight race in the North American market, with Jana Nayagan having a slight edge in pre-sales at certain points. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) On the domestic front, the buzz is palpable. On the popular ticketing platform BookMyShow, Jana Nayagan currently holds a significant lead in audience anticipation with over 695,000 interests. The Raja Saab is also commanding strong attention, having garnered more than 409,000 interests from users on the platform. The makers are confident in the film's appeal, setting premium prices for its premiere shows across the country.Adding to the positive momentum, director Hemanth Madhukar has expressed immense confidence in the film's potential. In a recent media interaction, Madhukar stated his belief that The Raja Saab has the power to challenge the phenomenal box office run of the recent blockbuster, Dhurandhar. He lauded Prabhas's star power, comparing his ability to draw audiences to that of Bollywood's biggest superstars.Madhukar highlighted that the combination of the horror-comedy genre, which is currently popular with Hindi audiences, and Prabhas's charisma could lead to massive collections. Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab is Prabhas's first venture into the horror-comedy genre. The film also features a stellar cast including Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, and Nidhhi Agerwal.With a U/A certificate from the Censor Board and the promise of a potential sequel, the excitement for this Sankranthi release is at an all-time high.
