Ravi Teja and Prabhas Sankranti films close in losses
Two high-profile Telugu-language films released during the Sankranti festival in 2026 have ended their theatrical runs in the red, despite featuring major stars and benefitting from the lucrative holiday release window. Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi, starring Ravi Teja, and The Raja Saab, headlined by Prabhas, failed to recover their overall costs at the box office.
Bhartha Mahasayulaku Wignyapthi is a comedy-drama written and directed by Kishore Tirumala and produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas banner. The film stars Ravi Teja alongside Ashika Ranganath and Dimple Hayathi and was released on 13 January 2026. Marketed as a family entertainer, the film opened on an average note and saw collections drop steadily after the initial holiday period.
Trade estimates suggest that the film concluded its theatrical run with losses of approximately ₹9 crore. While Ravi Teja’s performance was noted by a section of the audience, critical reception remained mixed. Reviewers pointed to a routine storyline and a lack of freshness in execution, which limited the film’s ability to sustain footfalls beyond its opening week.
The more significant setback came with The Raja Saab, a fantasy horror comedy written and directed by Maruthi. Produced by People Media Factory in collaboration with IVY Entertainment, the film was released worldwide on 9 January 2026. The cast included Prabhas in the lead role, alongside Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan — marking her debut in Telugu cinema — Riddhi Kumar and Zarina Wahab.
Despite its large scale and extensive production timeline, the film failed to connect with audiences. The Raja Saab opened to largely negative reviews, with critics criticising its screenplay, inconsistent tone and extended runtime. The film’s music was composed by Thaman S, with cinematography by Karthik Palani and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao.
Even with a wide release and strong initial buzz, the film witnessed a sharp decline in occupancy after the opening weekend. According to trade reports, The Raja Saab closed with estimated losses of around ₹80 crore, making it one of the most notable commercial failures of the Sankranti season.
The underperformance of both films has once again highlighted the growing unpredictability of the box office, even during festival periods traditionally considered safe for major releases. Industry observers note that rising budgets, heightened audience expectations and weak scripts continue to pose significant risks for star-driven projects.
