Sikandar box office collection Day 1: Salman Khan starrer makes a splash with Rs 26 crore debut

Salman Khan's much-anticipated action thriller Sikandar made its debut at the domestic box office with an estimated Rs 26 crore collection on its first day.
While the film's opening performance fell slightly below industry expectations, it still secured its place as the eighth-highest opening for a Salman Khan starrer. Releasing on Sunday, a day before the Eid holiday, Sikandar recorded an overall Hindi occupancy rate of 21.60% on March 30. Morning shows saw a slow start with 13.76% occupancy, while evening screenings picked up to 25%. However, a minor dip was observed during night shows, settling at 23.55% occupancy.
Sikandar Movie Review
Despite decent pre-sales figures, the film was expected to see strong spot bookings due to Khan's massive fan following and its appeal as a mass entertainer. However, mixed audience reception hindered its box office potential. Trade analysts estimated that Sikandar would open in the range of Rs 25-26 crore net, a projection that ultimately materialised.
In comparison to the superstar's previous releases, Sikandar fell just short of Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), which earned Rs 26.67 crore on its opening day. It did, however, surpass Kick (2014) with Rs 24.97 crore and Dabangg 3 (2019), which debuted at Rs 22.29 crore. Given that the film was released on a Sunday and was followed by the Eid holiday, the opening figures are considered underwhelming.
Adding to its challenges, the film's box office collections was reportedly struck by piracy within hours of its release. Multiple illegal platforms, including Telegram groups, allegedly leaked the film online, offering unauthorised downloads and streaming links. Film trade analyst Komal Nahta commented on the impact of piracy, stating, “Usually, films get pirated a week or two after release, but in this case, it happened on the release day itself. If a Salman Khan film is available for free on mobile phones the day it releases, why would audiences visit cinemas?”
With the Eid holiday on Monday, Sikandar must perform well to recover lost ground. The film's long-term success now hinges on positive word-of-mouth and sustained box office traction throughout the week. Directed by AR Murugadoss, the film also stars Rashmika Mandanna in a leading role.