Salman Khan’s action-packed Eid release, Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss, hit theaters on Sunday but has received mixed-to-negative reactions from both critics and audiences. Rashmika Mandanna stars as the female lead in this Bollywood biggie.
Despite the star power of Salman Khan and the festive advantage, the film opened to a rather underwhelming Rs. 30.06 crore nett on its first day. While this is a decent figure on its own, it falls short of expectations for a Salman Khan Eid release. For comparison, Tiger 3, which also debuted on a Sunday in 2023, stormed the box office with Rs. 43 crore nett on day one, marking the highest-ever Sunday opening for Bollywood.
Adding to Sikandar’s challenges, the film was leaked online before its release, which, coupled with mixed word-of-mouth, seems to have affected its box office performance. If collections drop today – on the eve of Eid – it could spell trouble for its overall run.
Another major criticism stems from AR Murugadoss’ storytelling, which some viewers find outdated, making the film less engaging. As the film enters its crucial second day, all eyes are on whether Sikandar can pick up momentum or continue on a downward trend.