Sikandar Day 1: Negative reviews and low collections

Salman Khan’s highly anticipated action thriller Sikandar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss, hit theaters on March 30, 2025. However, despite its grand Eid release, the film has struggled to impress audiences, facing negative reviews, lukewarm public response, and a lackluster box office performance on its opening day.

Hopes were high for Sikandar, given Murugadoss’s past Bollywood success with Ghajini. Salman Khan, aiming to break his recent string of flops, teamed up with the popular Rashmika Mandanna and a South Indian director for added appeal. However, early numbers suggest that the strategy has not paid off.

One of Salman’s lowest openings

Despite Salman’s dedicated fanbase and strong pre-release buzz, Sikandar opened to an underwhelming ₹26 crore nett in India across all languages—one of the lowest opening-day figures in his recent career.

Critics and audiences have slammed the film for its weak screenplay, outdated execution, and failure to capitalize on Salman’s trademark mass appeal. The plot, revolving around his character, Sanjay “Sikandar” Rajkot, taking on a corrupt minister, has been criticized as clichéd, with poorly developed characters and forgettable action sequences failing to elevate the film.

Did piracy hurt Box Office numbers?

Trade analysts suggest that mixed word-of-mouth and an online leak ahead of release may have further dented the film’s earnings.

“The hype was massive, but the content didn’t deliver,” a theater owner in Bihar remarked. “A Rs 25-30 crore opening is weak when audiences aren’t excited.”

With its first-day collections falling far behind Salman’s past Eid blockbusters, Sikandar’s long-term box office prospects look uncertain. The coming days will determine whether the film can recover or fade away as another underwhelming outing for the superstar.