Salman Khan’s latest film, ‘Sikandar,’ released on Sunday, March 30, 2025, coinciding with the festive occasion of Eid. The film garnered significant attention, marking Khan’s return to the big screen during Eid after a two-year hiatus. Directed by A.R. Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment banner, ‘Sikandar’ features an ensemble cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, Anjini Dhawan, and Jatin Sarna alongside Khan.
Opening Day Performance
On its opening day, ‘Sikandar’ amassed approximately ₹26 crore at the domestic box office. While this figure is substantial, it falls short when compared to Salman Khan’s previous Eid releases. For instance, ‘Bharat’ (2019) opened with ₹42.30 crore, and ‘Sultan’ (2016) garnered ₹36.54 crore on their respective first days. This suggests that ‘Sikandar’ did not achieve the anticipated initial impact despite the festive release.
Eid Holiday Boost
The film experienced a notable surge in collections on its second day, coinciding with the Eid holiday. Reports indicate that ‘Sikandar’ collected around ₹36.50 crore on Monday, March 31, 2025. This increase is attributed to the festive celebrations, which traditionally see higher footfalls in cinemas, especially in regions with significant Muslim populations. Bollywood Hungama+2Bollywood Hungama+2Bollywood Hungama+2
Third-Day Collections
On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the film’s collections were estimated between ₹22 crore to ₹24 crore. This brings the film’s total earnings over the three days to approximately ₹86 crore. While these numbers are commendable, they indicate a declining trend in daily collections, raising concerns about the film’s sustainability in the coming weeks.
Comparative Performance
When juxtaposed with other recent releases, ‘Sikandar’s’ performance appears modest. For instance, Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Chhaava’ opened with ₹31 crore, surpassing ‘Sikandar’s’ first-day earnings. Additionally, Mohanlal’s Malayalam thriller ‘L2: Empuraan’ achieved a more robust global opening, highlighting the competitive nature of the current box office landscape.
Audience Reception and Theatre Occupancy
The film’s occupancy rates varied across different regions. Chennai recorded the highest occupancy at 46.67%, followed by Bengaluru at 28%. Other key cities such as Jaipur and Kolkata saw occupancies of 24.67%, Hyderabad at 22%, NCR at 21%, and Mumbai at 20.67%. These figures suggest that while ‘Sikandar’ had a strong presence in certain areas, it underperformed in others. ABP Live
Challenges and Theatre Replacements
Despite the initial buzz, ‘Sikandar’ faced challenges in maintaining its screening slots. In several multiplexes, the film was replaced by other movies due to dwindling audience interest and lower-than-expected occupancy rates. This shift indicates that the film struggled to sustain its momentum beyond the initial release phase.
Critical Reception and Future Outlook
The mixed critical reception of ‘Sikandar’ has played a role in its box office performance. While Salman Khan’s star power ensured a strong opening, the film’s content and execution received lukewarm responses from both critics and audiences. As the initial festive fervor subsides, the film’s longevity at the box office remains uncertain. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether ‘Sikandar’ can overcome its early challenges and achieve sustained success.
In summary, ‘Sikandar’ showcased a promising start, bolstered by Salman Khan’s star appeal and the festive Eid release. However, its performance has been inconsistent, with significant regional variations and challenges in maintaining theatre presence. The film’s future trajectory will depend on word-of-mouth publicity and its ability to attract audiences beyond the initial release period.
