Salman Khan’s much-anticipated action thriller Sikandar has finally hit the big screens, and its Day 1 box office collection stands at ₹26 crore (India net), according to Sacnilk.com. While the film had a decent opening, it failed to surpass expectations and fell short of becoming one of Salman’s top Eid openers.
A Solid Start but Not a Record-Breaker
Directed by AR Murugadoss and featuring an ensemble cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sathyaraj, Sikandar was released across multiple languages—Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Despite the hype surrounding its Independence Day weekend release, the film’s opening day numbers couldn’t match the benchmarks set by Salman’s previous Eid blockbusters like Bharat (₹42.30 crore) or Tiger 3 (₹53.3 crore).
How Does Sikandar Compare?
Here’s how Sikandar stacks up against other major Indian releases of 2025:
| Film | Day 1 Collection |
|---|---|
| Game Changer | ₹54 crore |
| Chhaava | ₹33.10 crore |
| Vidaamuyarchi | ₹27 crore |
| Sikandar | ₹26 crore |
| Daaku Maharaaj | ₹25.35 crore |
Although Sikandar managed to surpass Daaku Maharaaj (₹25.35 crore), it lagged behind Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava (₹33.10 crore) and Ram Charan’s Game Changer (₹54 crore), which remains the biggest opener of the year.
Mixed Reviews and Online Leak Impact
The film opened to mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. While fans praised Salman Khan’s larger-than-life presence and Rashmika Mandanna’s charm, many criticized the screenplay for being predictable and lacking emotional depth. Adding to its challenges, Sikandar faced an online piracy leak just hours after its release, which may have impacted its box office performance.
What Lies Ahead?
Despite a lukewarm start compared to Salman’s past Eid releases like Sultan (₹36.54 crore) or Ek Tha Tiger (₹32.93 crore), trade analysts believe that Sikandar could witness growth in the coming days due to the extended holiday period and Salman’s massive fanbase. With a reported budget of ₹200 crore, the film will need strong weekday collections to break even and make a mark at the box office.
Conclusion
While Sikandar’s Day 1 collection of ₹26 crore is respectable, it highlights the growing competition in Indian cinema as audiences now demand more than just star power. Whether Salman Khan’s latest outing can sustain its momentum or fade amidst stiff competition remains to be seen. For now, all eyes are on the film’s performance over the crucial Eid week!