The Raja Saab: Franchise plans announced

While many Telugu superstars are currently steering clear of sequels and franchise fatigue, producer TG Vishwa Prasad appears to be taking the opposite approach.

Despite ongoing delays with “The Raja Saab,” which has yet to complete filming even after three years, he has now hinted at turning it into a franchise.

Originally launched during the COVID-19 era, “The Raja Saab” has seen multiple release postponements.

The latest update pushes the release from December 2024 to January 2025, targeting the Sankranthi festival window. Producer TG Vishwa Prasad spoke about the film in a recent interview.

Release Date Shift to Sankranthi 2026: Initially slated for December 5, 2025, the film’s release is likely to be postponed to January 9, 2026, to capitalize on the Sankranthi festive season, following requests from Telugu business circles and fans. However, Bollywood buyers are pushing to retain the original December date.

Sequel Plans and Multiverse Concept: Vishwa Prasad confirmed a sequel, The Raja Saab – Part 2, but clarified it won’t be a direct continuation. Instead, it will be part of a multiverse within the same franchise, maintaining the scale and grandeur of the original.

Extensive Raw Footage: The film’s first raw cut is approximately 4.5 hours long. Director Maruthi will decide the final runtime, potentially trimming it to 2 hours 45 minutes or 3 hours 15 minutes.

Pending Production Work: Filming is expected to wrap by October 2025, with a few songs and patchwork scenes still to be completed.

High-Quality VFX and Music: The film features a massive 41,256 sq ft horror set, the largest of its kind in Indian cinema. Vishwa Prasad emphasized the focus on high-quality VFX and Thaman S’s music, which includes an intro song, a melody, a high-energy dance number, and a love song, with a Rs 30-40 crore investment in the audio.

Box Office Confidence: Addressing past financial losses from films like Mr Bachchan and Manamey, Vishwa Prasad expressed confidence that The Raja Saab will be a blockbuster, recovering all losses due to Prabhas’s massive theatrical and non-theatrical market

The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi and starring Prabhas, is seen as a crucial project for both. With Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar in the cast and music by Thaman, the film is expected to blend horror, comedy, and romance.