Prabhas a ‘Medium-Range Hero’ Turned Pan-India Star by Rajamouli, Says The Raja Saab Director; Fans React

The pre-release event for Prabhas’ upcoming film, The Raja Saab, was held in Hyderabad on Saturday, drawing the film’s cast, crew, and thousands of enthusiastic fans. The event turned emotional when director Maruthi broke down on stage during a heartfelt speech. However, a remark about Prabhas’ career stirred a debate among fans, with some feeling it was disrespectful to the star.

Maruthi on Prabhas’ Fame

During his address, Maruthi reflected on the global reach of Indian cinema, particularly Telugu films, sharing a story from a visit to a remote village in South Africa:

“When I mentioned that I am a film director, a local asked, ‘Who?’ When I said ‘Prabhas,’ he replied, ‘Oh, the Baahubali hero?’ This shows he has become known even to people in Masai Mara.”

He also praised SS Rajamouli, the director of Baahubali, for elevating Telugu cinema to the Pan-India stage:

“Every director is indebted to Rajamouli garu. Today, everyone talks about ‘Pan India,’ but he introduced a medium-range hero to the Pan-India stage and set the benchmark for the world today.”

Fan Reactions

While many appreciated Maruthi’s acknowledgment of Telugu cinema’s growth, his reference to Prabhas as a “medium-range hero” drew criticism from some fans. Comments on social media highlighted Prabhas’ earlier successes, including hits like Varsham, Chatrapati, Darling, Mr. Perfect, and Mirchi, arguing that his track record was stronger than Maruthi’s description suggested.

Other fans and film enthusiasts defended Maruthi, pointing out that before Baahubali, actors like Prabhas, Allu Arjun, and Ram Charan were considered tier-2 stars in Tollywood. They noted that Prabhas had no 100-crore grosser prior to Baahubali, which explains the “medium-range” reference in context.

About The Raja Saab

The Raja Saab is a fantasy thriller and a mass entertainer with comedic elements. Alongside Prabhas, the film stars Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Boman Irani. The movie is scheduled for release in theatres on 9 January 2026, coinciding with Sankranti.