Prabhas' The Raja Saab faces VFX turmoil as producer TG Vishwa Prasad alleges extortion and delays by VFX supervisor, causing a setback for the film's release schedule. The horror comedy, starring Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, and others, is now pushed to Sankranthi 2026 due to these issues.
The Raja Saab producer TG Vishwa Prasad revealed in an exclusive interview that the film's VFX supervisor extorted money and threatened the director, Maruthi, leading to significant delays. The supervisor did no work until October 2024 despite being paid and forced the team to postpone the movie originally slated for April 2025. The supervisor reportedly has a history of such behavior and was recently removed from SS Rajamouli's SSMB 29 project. Vishwa hinted at sharing more details about the extortion fees soon.
The film and its delayed VFX work have caused disappointment among fans and industry observers. The release is rescheduled to January 9, 2026, during Sankranthi, a crucial festive box office period. The Raja Saab is produced by People Media Factory and IVY Entertainment and directed by Maruthi, marking Malavika Mohanan's Telugu film debut alongside Prabhas and Sanjay Dutt.
Consequences of these VFX issues include loss of trust in the VFX team, damage to production schedules, potential financial losses, and impacts on promotional activities. If unresolved, the delays could affect the film's competition with other clustered Sankranthi releases. This controversy also raises concerns about VFX vendor reliability in Tollywood, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight.
This development highlights the importance of VFX supervision efficiency and trust in big-budget South Indian films. The Raja Saab's team now faces the challenge of completing high-quality visual effects quickly to meet the new release timeline and regain audience confidence.
Overall, the producer's allegations underscore industry challenges with VFX vendors, potentially prompting Tollywood producers to be more cautious about contracting and managing such critical post-production elements. The film remains highly anticipated despite these setbacks, with hopes of a smooth release and positive reception in 2026.