Following a disappointing theatrical run, Prabhas's "The Raja Saab" is gearing up for its digital debut on JioHotstar on February 6, 2026. However, reports suggest that the version streaming online will be a shorter, re-edited cut of the film. This move comes after the film, directed by Maruthi, failed to impress audiences and critics alike during its theatrical release, despite high expectations and a massive budget.
"The Raja Saab," a pan-Indian horror-comedy, was released during the Sankranti festive season and marked Prabhas's return to the comedy genre with a horror twist. The film features a strong supporting cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Zarina Wahab, and Boman Irani, along with female leads Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar. Despite the star power and initial buzz, the movie became one of the biggest commercial disasters in Prabhas's career. Critics generally gave negative reviews, with the screenplay and runtime receiving the most flak for being inconsistent and lacking narrative cohesion.
According to reports, the makers have trimmed approximately 10 minutes from the film for its OTT release. The re-edited version aims to offer a smoother and more engaging viewing experience for home audiences. Several scenes that were heavily trolled during the theatrical run have been either trimmed or completely removed. These reportedly include sequences where VFX was used to replace Prabhas with a body double, as well as scenes where logic was stretched beyond belief. The decision to release a shorter version is viewed as a corrective step to address some of the audience complaints and improve the film's reception.
The film's struggles at the box office are well-documented. On its 24th day, the movie made only Rs 30 lakhs, indicating a significant slowdown. While the worldwide collection stands at Rs 208.07 crore, this is below expectations for a Prabhas film. Made on a budget of 400 crores, the film has only recovered 36.36% of the total investment, leading to staggering losses.
"The Raja Saab" will be available for streaming in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, with English subtitles. However, the Hindi version will not be available on the platform initially, despite the presence of several Bollywood actors in the cast.
The move to release a shorter version of "The Raja Saab" on OTT platforms is not entirely new. Recently, "Dhurandhar," starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna, also had a slightly shorter runtime on Netflix compared to its theatrical release. In that case, the difference was attributed to the removal of interval cards and in-theatre advertising elements. However, "The Raja Saab" is a unique case where the OTT version has been intentionally re-edited, making its digital release a point of curiosity for viewers. It remains to be seen whether these changes will help the film find a more appreciative audience on the digital platform.