Prabhas' much-anticipated Telugu-language fantasy horror-comedy film, 'The Raja Saab', premiered worldwide on January 9, 2026, coinciding with the Sankranti festival. However, its release in the Nizam region of India, encompassing Telangana, was marked by a significant 'twist' concerning advance ticket bookings. While other regions like Andhra Pradesh saw smooth opening of bookings with approved ticket price hikes for premiere shows, Telangana experienced considerable delays and frustration among fans. The core of the 'twist' was the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the Telangana government's official order (GO) for allowing increased ticket prices and special premiere shows. Initially, reports indicated that the government might not grant any hikes for 'The Raja Saab', meaning premiere shows would run at regular rates, which was unusual for a big-budget Prabhas film. This led to immense tension and disappointment among fans and distributors, who had invested heavily in the film. Despite the last-minute nature of the approvals, bookings for premiere shows in Telangana eventually commenced on platforms like the District App on January 8, 2026, with shows scheduled to begin after 11:30 PM. The Telangana High Court had reportedly granted permission for ticket price hikes and premiere shows for 'The Raja Saab' and another film, though the state government's GO remained a point of contention until very close to the release. The film, directed by Maruthi and also starring Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar, generated solid advance bookings in other parts of India and overseas, crossing significant milestones in pre-sales. The issue in Nizam highlighted the logistical challenges and regulatory hurdles often faced by film releases in various Indian states.