Riddhi Kumar is generating buzz for her role in the upcoming Telugu-language romantic horror-comedy, "The Raja Saab," particularly due to the opportunity to work alongside Prabhas. The film, directed by Maruthi, is slated for a worldwide release on January 9, 2026, coinciding with Sankranthi.
Kumar has expressed her excitement about the film and the opportunity to collaborate with Prabhas. She noted the strong audience response to the recently launched trailer, and conveyed her gratitude for being part of such a significant project with Prabhas' incredible fan following. According to Kumar, the chance to work with Prabhas again, this time as his heroine, was a major draw for her. She also expressed that what stood out to her was how real and relatable her character felt. While remaining tight-lipped about revealing too much about the role, Kumar shared that she had a great time playing someone who is both atrocious and adorable.
"The Raja Saab" has been described as one of the most anticipated South Indian films of the year. The film features Prabhas in a dual role, reportedly playing both a theatre owner and a ghost, specifically a grandson and grandfather. The cast also includes Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Malavika Mohanan.
The film's journey to the screen began in 2022 when Maruthi narrated the script to Prabhas, who agreed to shoot the film alongside his other projects, "Salaar" and "Kalki 2898 AD". Maruthi has called the project a "golden opportunity" to direct a star like Prabhas. While initially titled "Raja Deluxe" and slated to be produced by DVV Entertainment, the production was later transferred to People Media Factory.
The release strategy for "The Raja Saab" has been adjusted to avoid a direct clash with Thalapathy Vijay's final film, "Jana Nayagan," in Tamil. While "The Raja Saab" will be released in Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam on January 9, 2026, the Tamil-dubbed version will be released a day later, on January 10. This move is seen as a mark of respect towards the Kollywood star and aims to allow "The Raja Saab" to generate a decent opening without directly competing with a native Tamil film.
Riddhi Kumar has been building a diverse filmography across various languages and platforms. She has gained recognition in the Hindi digital space with roles in OTT series such as "Human," "Candy," and "Crash Course". Her performance in "Superboys of Malegaon" also earned her critical acclaim. With "The Raja Saab," she continues to expand her presence in Indian cinema.
