Salman Khan's much-anticipated action thriller Sikandar has finally hit theaters, and early trade reports indicate a promising start at the box office. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the film is expected to earn around ₹25-30 crore on its opening day, as per industry tracking site Sacnilk. While this is a strong debut, it falls just short of Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava, which managed to rake in ₹31 crore on its first day.
Despite not setting new opening-day records, Sikandar is poised for an impressive weekend, thanks to its Sunday release, followed by the Eid holiday. Historically, Salman Khan’s films have performed exceptionally well during the festive season, and Sikandar is expected to benefit from the same trend. The film’s box office collection is anticipated to witness a significant jump on Monday as audiences flock to theaters to celebrate Eid.
However, Sikandar faces stiff competition from L2: Empuraan, which has been gaining momentum since its release on March 27. The controversial yet highly anticipated film is already inching towards the ₹50 crore mark, making it a formidable opponent in the box office race. Whether Sikandar can sustain its momentum and outperform L2: Empuraan over the extended holiday period remains to be seen.
Adding to the challenges, Sikandar has fallen victim to online piracy just hours before its theatrical release. Infamous piracy websites such as Tamilrockers, Movierulz, and Filmyzilla, along with various Telegram groups, have leaked the full movie online, offering illegal download and streaming links. Despite stringent anti-piracy laws and ongoing efforts to curb illegal streaming, piracy continues to be a major problem for Bollywood, causing significant losses to filmmakers. In this case, the leak is believed to have originated from camcorder recordings inside theaters, which were then quickly converted into HD versions and uploaded online.
Despite this setback, the film is expected to perform well due to Salman Khan’s massive fan following. The actor’s return to action-packed cinema, combined with a star-studded cast featuring Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sharman Joshi, has generated immense buzz among moviegoers.
With high expectations and an extended festive weekend ahead, Sikandar has the potential to rake in impressive numbers. If positive word-of-mouth spreads and audiences turn up in large numbers, the film could emerge as one of the biggest hits of 2025. All eyes are now on its Monday collections, which will be a crucial indicator of its long-term box office success.
