Salman Khan’s much-anticipated Eid release, Sikandar, has had a lukewarm start at the box office. Despite the festive advantage and the superstar’s massive fan base, the film managed to collect only ₹54 crore worldwide on its opening day, making it one of Salman’s lowest Eid openings in years. The film’s debut collection falls significantly short of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which had opened to ₹109 crore worldwide, and even Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan, which earned ₹67 crore.
Underwhelming Start Despite Eid Release
Released on March 30, Sikandar was expected to be Salman’s comeback after the underperformance of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in 2023. However, advance bookings for the film failed to create much buzz, and the film collected only ₹26 crore net domestically. Comparatively, Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava had earned ₹31 crore on its first day in February.
The worldwide total of ₹54 crore puts Sikandar behind L2: Empuraan, which registered the highest opening for any Indian film in 2024. While Salman’s overseas appeal helped cover some of the domestic gap, the film’s overall performance has not met industry expectations.
Bad Reviews and Online Leak Affect Box Office Performance
Negative reviews and mixed word of mouth seem to have impacted Sikandar‘s footfalls, with little improvement in evening show collections. The film also suffered a major setback when it was leaked online by piracy websites hours before its release. Trade analyst Komal Nahta revealed that authorities managed to take down the pirated copies from around 600 websites, but the damage had already been done. “The multiplication continued and is still continuing. This condemnable act could cost the producer dearly,” he stated.
Can Sikandar Recover?
With Eid falling on Monday, the holiday box office numbers will be crucial in determining whether Sikandar can recover from its slow start. The film’s fate now depends on strong word of mouth and how well it sustains in the coming days.
About Sikandar
Directed by AR Murugadoss, Sikandar stars Salman Khan alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, and Sharman Joshi. The film marked Salman’s return to the big screen after a year-long gap and was released worldwide on March 30.
Sources By Agencies
