Last-minute booking tussle delays The RajaSaab advance sales in the Hindi belt
With The RajaSaab starring Prabhas due to hit cinemas on January 9, advance bookings have not opened across many major Hindi multiplex chains even as single-screen theatres and smaller chains have started ticket sales. Trade sources tell Bollywood Hungama the hold-up is due to ongoing negotiations between distributors and national chains, leaving less than a day for the big release.
Why national chains are holding back
According to sources, AA Films — the distributors of The RajaSaab — have been asking national chains to commit a significant number of shows to Toxic, the upcoming Yash-starrer. In return, those chains would get to screen The RajaSaab. Theatre groups, however, are hesitant to make such a deal.
The reason: Dhurandhar 2, which releases on March 19, remains a major priority for national chains. The first Dhurandhar delivered huge returns and continues to run well in cinemas, so chains are wary of anything that might short-change the sequel’s openings. While Toxic’s teaser indicates it could be a strong crowd-puller, exhibitors don’t want to lock in show allocations that could conflict with Dhurandhar 2’s prospects. That impasse is what has stalled bookings in the big circuits.
The good news from the trade is that this is a commercial negotiation rather than a creative issue, and both sides stand to lose if advance sales are held up until the last minute. Sources expect the matter to be sorted out by Thursday evening at the latest, after which full booking windows should open.
Hyderabad delay caused by ticket-price dispute — court gives relief
In Hyderabad, bookings had been delayed for a different reason: a disagreement between the film’s makers and the Telangana government over proposed ticket price hikes for The RajaSaab. The producers sought higher ticket rates, but the matter reached the Telangana High Court.
On January 8, a day before the scheduled release, the Telangana High Court granted relief to the makers on the ticket-price issue. Industry sources say a final government order is expected by Thursday evening, and once that is issued, ticket sales in Hyderabad will begin.
Paid previews sell fast in Andhra and Telangana (except Hyderabad)
Paid previews for The RajaSaab began on January 8 from 9:00 pm. Bookings for these shows have opened and are filling up quickly across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — with the notable exception of Hyderabad, where advance sales were held pending the government order. Shows in other cities have sold like hot cakes, suggesting strong audience appetite for the Prabhas-starrer in its original Telugu version.
Given the brisk preview bookings in surrounding centres, exhibitors and distributors are optimistic that Hyderabad will follow suit as soon as the administrative formalities are completed.
What to expect in the next 24 hours
- Negotiations with national chains: Trade insiders expect a resolution that will allow nationwide booking portals to go live before too long.
- Telangana government order: Once the formal order arrives, Hyderabad advance sales should open immediately.
- Box-office outlook: Strong paid-preview sales in Andhra and Telangana point to a thunderous start for The RajaSaab in Telugu, and full multiplex participation would boost numbers in the Hindi belt.
In short, the delays are logistical and commercial rather than reflective of audience demand. If the pending deals and orders are cleared as expected, last-minute rushes are likely across booking platforms and box offices tomorrow.
