The Rajasaab (2026) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 31 Jul 2026
The Rajasaab (2026) Review
The Rajasaab (2026) — a Telugu action, comedy, fantasy movie directed by Maruthi Dasari. The cast includes Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Zarina Wahab. Seeking his lost grandfather, a young man enters a haunted mansion and awakens a family curse powerful enough to upend both his life and reality. Our Rating: 2/5. Verdict: FLOP. Released: 9 Jan 2026. Runtime: 3h 6m.


The Rajasaab(2026)
Telugu · Action, Comedy, Fantasy
3h 6m · 9 Jan 2026
Music: S. Thaman | DOP: Kharthik Palani | Writer: Maruthi Dasari
Ratings
Our Rating
2
📖 Story
Raju (Prabhas) is a dedicated grandson caring for Gangadevi (Zarina Wahab), who suffers from Alzheimer's and longs for her missing husband, Kanakaraju (Sanjay Dutt). Raju's search for his grandfather leads him to a mysterious, sprawling mansion in Hyderabad where he discovers Kanakaraju has transformed into a sinister, hypnotizing force. Trapped within the estate, Raju must navigate a psychological and supernatural labyrinth to save his family and confront the dark legacy of his lineage.
The Raja Saab is a tonally confused horror-comedy that fails to capitalize on its massive scale and star power. The first half is a disjointed mix of forced comedy and generic horror tropes, with a screenplay that struggles to establish any narrative momentum. While the interval block featuring Sanjay Dutt provides a temporary high, the second half collapses under the weight of an overstretched runtime and aimless writing.
Director Maruthi’s attempt to bring back the 'vintage' comedic Prabhas feels dated, with many humor sequences falling flat or appearing repetitive. The pacing is a major hurdle, as the nearly three-hour length makes the experience a test of endurance. The horror elements lack genuine tension, often feeling like a 'spirited adventure' rather than a high-stakes supernatural thriller.
S. Thaman’s background score is frequently overbearing, mistaking loudness for impact, while the songs feel like forced commercial breaks that disrupt the tension. Technically, the film is a paradox; the production design of the mansion is grand and atmospheric, but it is undermined by inconsistent VFX and a noticeable over-reliance on green-screen sets that distance the audience from the world of the film.
Prabhas: Earnest effort to play a lighter, comic role; however, his performance is marred by inconsistent styling and a weak script.
Sanjay Dutt: Intense as the antagonist Kanakaraju, using his screen presence to create a sense of threat, though his character is underwritten.
Zarina Wahab: The emotional anchor of the film, delivering a dignified and moving performance as the grandmother.
Malavika Mohanan: Stands out among the female leads with an unexpected action sequence, though her role is ultimately limited.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Prabhas' Screen Presence
- ✓Grand Production Design of the Mansion
- ✓Intriguing Interval Sequence
- ✓Zarina Wahab's Emotional Performance
Weaknesses
- ✕Clumsy and Disjointed Screenplay
- ✕Excessive Runtime (183+ minutes)
- ✕Subpar and Inconsistent VFX
- ✕Dated Comedy and Forced Songs
- ✕Loud and Intrusive Background Score
🎬 Direction & Writing
Maruthi fails to marry his comedic sensibilities with the grand fantasy-horror genre. His direction lacks the discipline required for such a large-scale project, resulting in a 'misfired illusion' that feels like a collection of scenes rather than a movie.
- - Terrific Production Design (Rajeevan)
- - Inconsistent and Tacky VFX in key sequences
- - Unnecessarily Long Editing (Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao)
- - Substandard Cinematography giving an outdated look
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2.75 / 5 | |
| 2.00 / 5 | |
| 2.00 / 5 | |
| 2.00 / 5 | |
| 2.00 / 5 | |
| 2.00 / 5 | |
| 2.50 / 5 | |
| 2.25 / 5 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
🏆 Records & Box Office
- - Strong opening day due to star power
- - Major crash on Day 2 and subsequent weekdays
- - Struggled to reach even 50% budget recovery
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 25% |
| Neutral | 15% |
| Negative | 60% |
Critics
The film opened to generally negative reviews, with critics panning the 'AI-generated' feel of the script, the tedious runtime, and the lack of genuine scares or laughs.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did The Rajasaab release in theatres?▾
The Rajasaab released on 9 January 2026 (2026).
Is The Rajasaab a hit or flop?▾
The Rajasaab is declared a FLOP at the box office.
What is the budget of The Rajasaab?▾
Budget of The Rajasaab is approximately ₹500 Crore.
Where to watch The Rajasaab online? OTT release date?▾
The Rajasaab is available on JioHotstar, JioHotstar from 5 March 2026.
Who directed The Rajasaab?▾
The Rajasaab directed by Maruthi Dasari. Produced by T G Vishwa Prasad, Krithi Prasad.
Who are the main cast members of The Rajasaab?▾
The Rajasaab stars Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Zarina Wahab, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan.
What is the Tollybo rating for The Rajasaab?▾
Tollybo rates The Rajasaab 2/5. Verdict: FLOP.
Who composed the music for The Rajasaab?▾
Music for The Rajasaab composed by S. Thaman.
What is the genre and runtime of The Rajasaab?▾
The Rajasaab — Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Runtime: 186 minutes, Language: Telugu.
