Producer TG Vishwa Prasad has clarified why The Raja Saab went to Jio Hotstar instead of the usual big OTT platform. He explained that there is only one major OTT platform in India that regularly buys films of such massive scale.
However, that platform had already secured two other Prabhas films, Salaar 2 and Spirit. Since the platform typically acquires only about 8-10 films a year, locking three Prabhas films was not feasible. This forced the makers to explore other options, leading to the Jio Hotstar deal.
Industry circles believe this was an indirect hint that Netflix chose not to acquire The Raja Saab for this very reason as they already closed massive deals for Spirit and Salaar 2.
The Raja Saab makers reportedly faced multiple hurdles while closing the OTT agreement. Due to repeated postponements, platforms became cautious and negotiations turned tough. Sources say People Media Factory initially quoted a very high price, but several OTT players demanded at least a 25% reduction.
Despite rumors that the film was sold for a lower amount, insiders deny this. According to sources, The Raja Saab has been locked for a strong OTT deal worth around Rs. 160 crores, including Telugu and Hindi digital rights.
Interestingly, Prabhas' next film Fauji has also not closed its OTT deal yet, which means for OTT platforms, Prabhas name isn't enough. Today, OTT platforms also look for a strong director and content potential before committing to big-ticket deals.