Prabhas, Ram Charan and Yash experienced a level of superstardom that very few Indian actors have achieved, thanks to Baahubali, RRR, and KGF. With Baahubali and KGF being two-part franchises, the anticipation surrounding their immediate next films naturally reached astronomical levels. The opening numbers reflected that frenzy, particularly in the Hindi market. Saaho opened phenomenally despite disastrous reviews and went on to perform strongly in the Hindi belt, while Game Changer registered a solid opening despite relatively weak pre-release buzz. Toxic has now taken that phenomenon even further, with its Hindi version reportedly collecting ₹55 crore net on Day 1, surpassing KGF: Chapter 2‘s Hindi opening.
The Post-Superstardom Curse: From Saaho to Toxic
But the bigger question is whether these stars have actually been able to sustain the extraordinary stardom generated by their landmark films. The answer, so far, is largely no. Prabhas’ Saaho couldn’t replicate the cultural phenomenon of Baahubali, followed by Radhe Shyam and Adipurush, even though Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD subsequently restored some of his box-office standing. Ram Charan’s Game Changer, meanwhile, opened strongly but collapsed after the initial rush and eventually underperformed heavily. Toxic is now facing a similar challenge. Despite a phenomenal ₹101.10 crore India net and ₹140.75 crore worldwide opening, the film has received mixed-to-negative reactions, with criticism directed at its story, screenplay and editing. The real verdict will therefore depend on how sharply Toxic holds in the coming days.
Can Raaka Break the Jinx?
That brings us to Allu Arjun’s Raaka. After Pushpa 2: The Rule elevated the Icon Star’s pan-Indian brand to an unprecedented level, his next film carries the same gigantic expectations that followed Prabhas after Baahubali, Ram Charan after RRR and Yash after KGF. The Atlee-directed project is expected to be mounted on a huge scale, and it will have the enormous task of proving that Allu Arjun‘s post-Pushpa superstardom can translate into another major theatrical success. Can Raaka finally break the jinx and prove that a star can not only reach the summit but sustain it? That is the fascinating question surrounding Allu Arjun’s next big-screen outing.
