Salman Khan’s much-anticipated Eid release, ‘Sikandar‘, has faced a tepid response at the domestic box office, managing to cross the ₹105 crore mark after 11 days in theaters. Despite high expectations and a star-studded cast, the film has struggled to maintain momentum and faces stiff competition from other releases.
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Box Office Performance
According to a report by Sacnilk.com, ‘Sikandar’ collected approximately ₹1.19 crore on its 11th day, bringing its total domestic earnings to ₹106.94 crore. The film opened with ₹26 crore on its first day, which was notably less than the opening of Vicky Kaushal’s ‘Chhaava’ at ₹31 crore. By the end of its first week, ‘Sikandar’ had accumulated ₹90.25 crore. However, the second week has seen a significant decline in daily collections, with day 11 marking the lowest single-day earnings so far.
Comparison with Other Releases
‘Sikandar’ is facing formidable competition from Mohanlal’s ‘L2: Empuraan’, which has maintained a steady performance at the box office despite controversies surrounding its subject matter. The competition has further impacted ‘Sikandar’s’ ability to attract audiences and boost its earnings.
Critical Reception
The film has received mixed to negative reviews from critics. An excerpt from the Hindustan Times review noted, “Salman still owns action scenes like a boss. You know he means business when he merely stands in a battlefield. Yet, Murugadoss’ direction is so below average, that it makes Salman appear even weaker an actor than he really is. And then there is Rashmika, whose dialogue delivery problems persist. She’s unconvincing, and virtually no scene allows her to redeem herself.”
Production and Cast
Directed by AR Murugadoss, ‘Sikandar’ is an action-thriller featuring Salman Khan in the titular role. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, and Prateik Babbar in key roles. The cinematography is handled by S. Thirunavukkarasu, with music composed by Pritam and background score by Santhosh Narayanan. The film was released in India on March 30, 2025, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr, in both standard and IMAX formats.
Financial Aspects
Reports suggest that Salman Khan charged a substantial fee of ₹120 crore for his role in ‘Sikandar’. Rashmika Mandanna, following her successes in ‘Animal’ and ‘Pushpa 2’, was reportedly paid ₹5 crore, while Kajal Aggarwal received ₹3 crore for her role. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is said to have recovered ₹165 crore from the film’s streaming, television, and music rights, with Netflix acquiring the streaming rights for ₹80 crore, potentially increasing to ₹100 crore if the film crosses ₹350 crore at the box office.
Audience Reception
Despite the star power and promotional efforts, ‘Sikandar’ has not resonated as strongly with audiences as anticipated. Factors contributing to its underwhelming performance may include the mixed critical reception, strong competition from other films, and possibly unmet audience expectations.
Expectations not met
While ‘Sikandar’ has achieved a commendable milestone by crossing the ₹105 crore mark domestically and ₹200 crore worldwide, its performance falls short of the high expectations set for a Salman Khan Eid release. The film’s struggle to maintain box office momentum highlights the challenges even major stars face in ensuring commercial success amidst evolving audience preferences and competitive releases.
By – Sonali
