The pre-release event of Prabhas&rsquo; upcoming film, The Raja Saab, was held in Hyderabad on Saturday, drawing a massive crowd of fans along with the film&rsquo;s cast and crew. The grand celebration turned emotional when director Maruthi broke down on stage while addressing the audience. However, a remark made during his speech later triggered a debate among Prabhas&rsquo; fans on social media.
Speaking about the evolution of Telugu cinema on the global stage, Maruthi shared an anecdote from a visit to a remote village in South Africa. He recalled how mentioning Prabhas&rsquo; name instantly connected people there to Baahubali, highlighting the actor&rsquo;s international recognition. Maruthi credited filmmaker SS Rajamouli for taking Telugu cinema to global audiences and redefining the concept of pan-India films.
In his speech, Maruthi stated that Rajamouli had elevated a &ldquo;medium-range hero&rdquo; to a global level, a comment that did not go down well with a section of Prabhas&rsquo; fans. Many felt the remark undermined the actor&rsquo;s earlier success and stature in Telugu cinema. Social media saw strong reactions, with fans pointing to Prabhas&rsquo; successful films such as Varsham, Chatrapati, Darling, Mr Perfect, and Mirchi as proof of his long-standing popularity.
On the other hand, several film enthusiasts defended Maruthi, arguing that before pan-India blockbusters like Baahubali, Pushpa, and RRR, stars such as Prabhas, Allu Arjun, and Ram Charan were considered tier-2 actors in terms of box office reach. They noted that Prabhas did not have a ₹100-crore blockbuster before Baahubali, supporting Maruthi&rsquo;s broader point about industry transformation.
The Raja Saab is a fantasy thriller that marks Prabhas&rsquo; return to a mass entertainer blended with comedy. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Boman Irani. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranti festival.

Director’s speech at The Raja Saab event divides Prabhas fans online

Maruthi’s Remark on Prabhas Sparks Fan Debate

Director’s speech at The Raja Saab event divides Prabhas fans online

December 28, 2025 | 10:49 IST