The highly anticipated Prabhas-starrer, The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi, has faced multiple delays, pushing its release from its originally planned date in April 2025 to January 9, 2026. Producer TG Vishwa Prasad of People Media Factory has finally addressed the reasons behind these postponements, citing significant issues with the film's initial VFX supervisor.
According to Prasad, the VFX supervisor caused major setbacks by delaying work and allegedly engaging in "extortion mode". In an interview with NTV Telugu, Prasad stated that the supervisor did not complete any work until October 2024, despite being paid and that this caused the initial delay of the film.
Prasad further alleged that the same VFX supervisor had a pattern of similar behavior on other major projects. He claimed the supervisor would take a monthly fee for his team without delivering any shots, and threatened to quit if director Maruthi raised any concerns. This individual was also allegedly fired from SS Rajamouli's upcoming film with Mahesh Babu, SSMB29, due to similar issues.
While Prasad refrained from explicitly naming the supervisor, social media users have speculated that it may be Kamal Kannan. It was implied that the supervisor prioritized work on other high-profile projects, such as Pushpa 2, which further impacted the progress of The Raja Saab.
To mitigate further delays, the production team decided to terminate their agreement with the initial VFX supervisor. Vishwa Prasad then established an in-house VFX team for his company, which has been working on both Mirai and The Raja Saab. The producer has assured fans that there will be no further issues with the VFX in The Raja Saab, except for some cinematic liberties to enhance the viewing experience.
Despite the delays, Prasad expressed confidence in the film's content and its suitability for the Sankranthi festival season. He believes that Prabhas's fans will appreciate the film during this time. He clarified that while The Raja Saab is envisioned as a franchise, the first film will have a complete story. Discussions are underway for a subsequent film featuring Prabhas and Maruthi.
