Salman Khan’s much-anticipated film Sikandar hit theaters on Sunday, just a day before Eid. The film was expected to dominate the box office, but its opening day numbers were lower than predicted.
Initial estimates suggested a collection of ₹40-45 crore on day one. However, Sikandar managed to earn only ₹26 crore in India, according to reports. The makers, however, claim the film made ₹30.6 crore domestically and ₹54 crore worldwide.
Sikandar: Comparisons with Previous Salman Khan Films
Sikandar has had one of the lowest openings among Salman’s recent films. It performed better than Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (₹13.5 crore) and Radhe (₹4.75 crore). However, it failed to match the openings of Tiger Zinda Hai (₹34.10 crore), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (₹27.25 crore), Sultan (₹36.54 crore), and Bharat (₹42.30 crore).
Even Tiger 3, Salman’s last release, started with ₹44.5 crore. On the other hand, Sikandar managed to surpass Dabangg 2 (₹21.10 crore). Despite the anticipation, the film’s performance remains underwhelming.
Sikandar: Occupancy and Regional Performance
On Sunday, Sikandar recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 21.60%. Evening shows peaked at 25%. The IMAX 2D format saw a slightly higher occupancy of 22.96%.
The highest occupancy was in Chennai at 46.67%, followed by Bengaluru at 28%. Other major cities recorded lower numbers. Jaipur and Kolkata had 24.67%, Hyderabad saw 22%, while NCR and Mumbai stood at 21% and 20.67%, respectively.
Pressure to Deliver a ₹500 Crore Blockbuster
Salman Khan has yet to deliver a ₹500 crore blockbuster in India. His contemporaries, including Shah Rukh Khan (Pathaan, Jawan), Ranbir Kapoor (Animal), Sunny Deol (Gadar 2), and even Vicky Kaushal (Chhaava), have reached this milestone. Even Stree 2 managed to cross ₹500 crore domestically.
With these comparisons, Sikandar faces immense pressure to perform well in the coming days. The film needs strong word-of-mouth and steady footfalls to sustain itself at the box office.
About Sikandar
Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, Sikandar tells the story of Sanjay Rajkot, a powerful leader from Gujarat. He is respected by many but feared by his enemies. His life takes a tragic turn when his wife, Saisri, dies in a devastating explosion.
As he grieves, he discovers that Saisri had donated her organs. This revelation leads him on an emotional journey to find those who received her organs. Through this process, he battles sorrow and searches for meaning in his loss.
A Grand Cinematic Experience
Sikandar is a high-budget film, reportedly made with ₹200 crore. The movie features an ensemble cast, including Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, and Sathyaraj. The film blends action, drama, and emotion, offering a gripping narrative of loss, resilience, and redemption.
Under Murugadoss’ direction, Sikandar aims to leave a lasting impact on audiences. However, its box office journey remains uncertain. The coming days will determine if the film can gain momentum or continue to struggle. Get breaking news, top headlines, Entertainment updates, and Bollywood buzz, along with global news coverage and more.
