Actress Nidhhi Agerwal, co-star in the recently released film "The Raja Saab," stated that lead actor Prabhas remains largely detached from his films' commercial outcomes. This observation comes as the fantasy horror comedy, which premiered on January 9, 2026, has underperformed at the box office despite a significant opening. The film, made on a budget of ₹400-450 crore, has been classified as a box office failure.
Prabhas's Detached Approach to Film Results
Nidhhi Agerwal shared her insights into Prabhas's personality and professional outlook during a recent conversation on Ranveer Allahbadia's podcast. She explained that Prabhas focuses solely on giving his best to every project, without letting the final box office figures influence him. "Prabhas is very detached from the results of his films. He does his job and gives his best," Agerwal stated. She added that this approach is, in her opinion, the right way to handle the unpredictable nature of the film industry.[hindustantimes+2]
Agerwal also praised Prabhas for his genuine character, describing him as "childlike, genuine, soft and sweet." She noted that he operates without "games, no politics, no fakeness" and does not employ a public relations (PR) team. Her experience working alongside him on "The Raja Saab" led her to a "newfound respect" for the actor. Agerwal highlighted that meeting Prabhas is "like meeting a five-year-old baby" due to his pure intentions and simple nature. She expressed surprise that someone so soft-spoken could become India's biggest superstar, suggesting that such authenticity might be a better path to success.[indianexpress+17]
"The Raja Saab" Box Office Struggles
"The Raja Saab," directed by Maruthi, debuted globally on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranti festival. The film, also starring Sanjay Dutt and Malavika Mohanan, opened strongly, grossing ₹100.9 crore worldwide on its first day. In India, it earned ₹62.90 crore net on opening day, including ₹9.15 crore from paid previews. However, this initial success was short-lived. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticized its screenplay and runtime for being inconsistent and lacking narrative cohesion.[en+5]
Following its bumper opening, "The Raja Saab's" collections plummeted sharply. By the second day, its earnings dipped by over 50 percent. The film struggled to maintain audience interest, with daily collections falling to under ₹1 crore by day 12, earning only ₹73 lakh across all languages. Over its 11-day run, the film collected approximately ₹140.50 crore net in India. Its worldwidegross reached around ₹201 crore. Given its substantial budget of ₹400-450 crore, "The Raja Saab" is projected to incur a significant notional box office loss of about ₹160-170 crore for its distributors. The film faced stiff competition and was eventually classified as a commercial failure.[en+8]
Prabhas's Pan-India Star Journey
Prabhas rose to national and international prominence as India's first "pan-India star" following the monumental success of the "Baahubali" film series. The two-part epic, "Baahubali: The Beginning" (2015) and "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" (2017), shattered box office records, with the sequel becoming the highest-grossing Indian film at the time. This success created immense audience expectations and commercial pressure for his subsequent projects.[en+5]
However, Prabhas'scareer post-"Baahubali" has seen mixed results. Several high-budget productions, including "Saaho" (2019), "Radhe Shyam" (2022), and "Adipurush" (2023), did not meet commercial expectations or received mixed reviews. For instance, "Saaho" grossed over ₹419 crore worldwide but underperformed in its Telugu version, while its Hindi version was a hit. "Adipurush" also faced significant criticism and box office struggles.[en+3]
Despite these setbacks, Prabhas has also delivered recent successes. The action-drama "Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire" (2023) and the science-fiction epic "Kalki 2898 AD" (2024) performed well, with "Salaar" earning a notional profit of ₹200 crore globally and "Kalki 2898 AD," one of the most expensive Indian films ever made, also achieving a notional profit of ₹180 crore. These films served as "shining beacons" in his post-Baahubali career, saving it after the performance of "Adipurush."[hindustantimes+1]
The Demands of Stardom
The Indian film industry places enormous pressure on its biggest stars, especially those with a "pan-India" appeal like Prabhas. His ability to draw massive opening weekend collections, regardless of a film's eventual critical reception, highlights a "stardom economy" where his bankability justifies enormous production budgets. This unique position means actors like Prabhas often headline some of the most expensive films in Indian cinema history.[en]
Nidhhi Agerwal's comments offer a glimpse into how a superstar might navigate such high stakes. Her portrayal of Prabhas as a deeply committed yet personally detached individual suggests a coping mechanism for the intense scrutiny and fluctuating fortunes of the film world. By focusing on the acting process and maintaining a "pure" approach, Prabhas appears to shield himself from the commercial pressures that define much of the industry.[en]
His co-star's remarks underline Prabhas's reputation for humility and genuine conduct, even as his latest film struggles at the box office. This perspective provides a rare look at the personal philosophy of one of India's most recognized actors amidst the public reception of his work. Prabhas is currently slated for future projects, including "Spirit" and sequels to "Kalki 2898 AD" and "Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire."[hindustantimes+3]
