Salman Khan's film Sikandar premiered in theaters on Sunday, March 30. This release marked the superstar's return to his beloved festival—Eid—after a two-year hiatus. Following the disappointing performance of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in 2023, Sikandar represented Salman's opportunity to reclaim his status during Eid. However, its lackluster box office results indicate that this chance has been missed.

On its opening day, Sikandar managed to earn just over ₹50 crore globally, a figure that might have been celebrated a decade ago but is now considered average, especially as many Bollywood films are achieving similar numbers domestically. Consequently, Salman has not secured the record for the highest opening of an Indian film this year, falling short of Mohanlal's Malayalam thriller L2: Empuraan.

Sikandar worldwide box office day 1 collection

Although Sikandar marks Salman Khan's first Eid release in two years, it did not achieve record-breaking advance ticket sales. As reported by Sacnilk, the film's domestic earnings amounted to a modest ₹26 crore net, falling short of Chhaava's ₹31 crore. On Monday morning, the producers revealed that Sikandar had garnered ₹54 crore globally on its opening day. This figure does not align with Salman Khan's prominent status in the industry. For comparison, Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan had surpassed this amount significantly, earning ₹109 crore on its opening day in September 2023.

The film appears to have been impacted by unfavorable reviews and negative word-of-mouth, as it did not experience an increase in audience turnout for the evening screenings. The potential for Sikandar's recovery hinges entirely on its performance on Monday, coinciding with the Eid holiday.

How Sikandar lost to Empuraan

On its opening day, Sikandar achieved a global box office collection of ₹54 crore, slightly surpassing Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava, which garnered ₹47.25 crore during its debut in February. The star power of Salman Khan played a significant role in helping Sikandar bridge the domestic shortfall in international markets. Nevertheless, the film could not compete with Mohanlal's L2: Empuraan, which set a record for the highest opening of any Indian film this year just four days prior. Empuraan amassed ₹67 crore worldwide on its first day, significantly outpacing Sikandar's earnings.

Sikandar leaked online

Sikandar was made available online by pirates on Saturday night, just hours prior to its official release. Trade analyst Komal Nahta reported that the filmmakers requested authorities to remove the film from approximately 600 websites. This leak could negatively impact Sikandar's box office performance. "The producer had the film taken down from 600 sites last night, but the damage was already inflicted. The spread has persisted and continues to do so. This reprehensible act could result in significant losses for the producer of the Salman-starrer," Nahta stated.

All about Sikandar

Sikandar, helmed by AR Murugadoss, signifies Salman’s first appearance on the big screen since 2023. The film features prominent performances by Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, and Sharman Joshi. It premiered in theaters on March 30.

Read Also: Mohanlal’s L2 Empuraan Becomes Highest-Grossing Malayalam Film Abroad Despite Controversy

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