Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ falls short of box office expectations on opening day

Salman Khan’s much-awaited film ‘Sikandar’, directed by A.R. Murugadoss, hit cinemas on 30 March 2025, coinciding with the Eid celebrations. Despite the high expectations and pre-release buzz, the film’s opening day collection has not been as strong as anticipated.
On its first day, ‘Sikandar’ reportedly earned around ₹26 crore at the domestic box office, lagging behind other recent releases. Globally, the film is said to have managed to cross ₹50 crore, but it fell short of setting new records.
The film’s occupancy rates varied across key cities, with Chennai reportedly registering the highest at approximately 46%, while Mumbai and Delhi saw relatively lower figures. This mixed response has raised concerns about its long-term box office potential.
Ahead of its release, ‘Sikandar’ had secured a significant amount through non-theatrical deals. The film earned around ₹165 crore from digital streaming, satellite, and music rights, covering a substantial portion of its reported ₹200 crore budget. However, despite these strong pre-release earnings, its theatrical performance remains a crucial factor in determining its overall success.
The lukewarm response on the opening day suggests that the film may need strong word-of-mouth and weekend footfall to sustain momentum. While Salman Khan’s star power remains a major draw, competition from other films and audience reception will play a key role in shaping its box office journey in the coming days.