# The Raja Saab's Sky-High Budget and Star Salaries: Prabhas Takes a Massive Pay Cut – Is This Telugu Cinema's Biggest Gamble? Imagine a film so grand it rivals *RRR* and *Sikandar*, packed with A-list stars, jaw-dropping VFX, and a ₹400-500 crore price tag – all hurtling toward a Pongal 2026 clash. That's *The Raja Saab*, the fantasy horror-comedy starring Prabhas, and the latest buzz reveals the eye-popping salaries fueling its mega-budget.[2][3][4] Directed by Maruthi and backed by People Media Factory, *The Raja Saab* has been three years in the making, evolving from a modest horror-comedy into a spectacle with supernatural thrills, humor, and a 40-minute climax that's got producer TG Vishwa Prasad teasing "a lot of zeroes."[4][5] Slated for January 9, 2026 release in Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam, it's poised for a massive Pongal showdown alongside Vijay's *Jana Nayagan*.[1][3] At the heart is **Prabhas**, the Rebel Star whose pan-India pull is the film's biggest asset. Reports conflict on his fee: some say he took a heroic pay cut from his usual ₹150 crore to ₹100 crore, freeing up funds for epic sets and VFX,[2][6][7] while others peg it at the full ₹150 crore.[3] Either way, it's a testament to his commitment. The ensemble cast is stacking up serious paychecks, pushing the budget into mega-league territory (estimates range from ₹400-450 crore to a whopping ₹500 crore including VFX, post-production, and interests).[2][3][4] Here's a breakdown of the reported salaries: | Cast Member | Reported Salary (₹ Crore) | Key Notes | |----------------------|---------------------------|-----------| | **Prabhas** | 100-150 | Lead; possible pay cut for VFX-heavy production[2][3][6] | | **Sanjay Dutt** | 5-7 | Significant role as menacing ghost[2][3][6] | | **Malavika Mohanan**| 2 | Tollywood debut as lead actress[2] | | **Riddhi Kumar** | 3 | Pivotal role; one of three heroines[2][3] | | **Nidhhi Agerwal** | 1-1.5 | Key supporting actress[2] | | **Anupam Kher** | ~1 | Veteran actor[2] | | **Brahmanandam** | 0.8 | Comic relief specialist[2] | | **Director Maruthi**| 18 | Highest in his career for 3-year commitment[3][5][6] | Supporting stars like Boman Irani, Zarina Wahab (whom Prabhas calls "Nannamma" and a "heroine" in her own right), Samuthirakani add emotional depth, while Thaman's music amps the buzz – though songs have mixed reactions.[3][5][6] This isn't just a film; it's a high-stakes bet on Prabhas' charm in a "lovable avatar," blending horror, fantasy, and laughs. With Sandeep Reddy Vanga accidentally spilling the ₹400 crore figure in a promo vid, expectations are through the roof.[4] Will it recover pre-release and dominate Pongal? The second trailer suggests yes, but theaters will decide.
Visualizing the grandeur of The Raja Saab's VFX-heavy world (Unsplash free stock image)
Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/vijays-jana-nayagan-to-prabhas-the-raja-saab-biggest-south-releases-for-pongal-2026/photostory/126396552.cms
2.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/prabhas-sanjay-dutt-to-nidhhi-agerwal-the-raja-saab-cast-salaries-and-budget-revealed-deets-inside/articleshow/126396541.cms
3.https://www.telugu360.com/raja-saab-budgets-and-remunerations/
4.https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/sandeep-reddy-vanga-leaks-rs-400-crore-budget-of-prabhas-the-raja-saab-is-equal-to-rrr-and-sikandar-101767791342964.html
5.https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/south/did-prabhas-the-raja-saab-director-maruthi-receive-paycheck-of-rs-18-crore-for-fantasy-horror-movie-find-out-1399537
6.https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/prabhas-took-salary-cut-for-the-raja-saab-1927857
7.https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/regional/the-raja-saab-how-much-did-prabhas-sanjay-dutt-nidhhi-aggerwal-and-others-get-paid-article-13760844.html
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