Sikandar falls short with $4.2 million opening in India
- The film Sikandar opened to $4.2 million in India, despite widespread expectation for higher earnings.
- Analysts predicted an opening collection ranging from $3 million to $5 million based on advance bookings and historical trends.
- Sales figures indicate a disappointing start, leading to questions about future earnings potential in subsequent days.
In India, on March 30, 2025, Salman Khan’s new Hindi film Sikandar was released across more than 5,000 screens. Despite a significant buzz surrounding its launch, the film garnered only $4.2 million on its opening day, which is considerably less than expected. With advance bookings initially set at around $1 million, trade analysts had estimated the film's opening collection to be between $3 million and $5 million. Though the film had anticipated a positive reception owing to Salman Khan's star power and its timing during the Eid festival, it was overshadowed by existing competition from the Malayalam film L2 Empuraan. Additionally, there was optimism for Sikandar's future, considering no significant upcoming Hindi film releases which could allow it some room to perform better in the subsequent days. Analysts suggested the second day of release, coinciding with a major holiday in India, could see a spike in collection due to festivities. The expectation was that the film could ultimately achieve a total gross of $35-40 million if it resonated well with audiences. Critics, however, expressed mixed feelings about the film's execution, stating it lacked the compelling charm typically associated with Khan's projects. Directed by AR Murugadoss, Sikandar mixes action, romance, and family values, yet falls short in delivering a thorough entertainment package, reflecting on the challenges projects face despite substantial budgets. Alongside Salman Khan, the film features Rashmika Mandanna and has been produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Salman Khan Films. As the film debuted in the midst of various cultural celebrations, it faced scrutiny on multiple fronts including marketing effectiveness, narrative engagement, and its appeal to diverse audiences who may have varied expectations from a major film release during a festive period.