Salman Khan’s latest release, Sikandar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, made a strong impact at the box office with a Day 1 collection of Rs. 30.06 crore. While the film opened to numbers slightly below initial expectations, trade experts predict that the business will see significant growth over the Eid holiday, traditionally a lucrative period for Salman Khan’s films.
Despite its commendable performance, Sikandar finds itself ranked seventh among Salman Khan’s all-time highest opening day grossers. Leading the pack is Tiger 3, which stormed the box office with Rs. 44.50 crore on its first day, followed closely by Bharat (Rs. 42.30 crore) and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (Rs. 40.35 crore). The action-packed Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai also fared better, raking in Rs. 36.54 crore and Rs. 34.10 crore, respectively. Even Ek Tha Tiger, which released over a decade ago, outperformed Sikandar with a Rs. 32.93 crore opening.
Comparing Sikandar to these blockbusters highlights a few key observations. Firstly, the film’s opening has been solid but not extraordinary, especially given Salman Khan’s reputation for delivering massive first-day numbers. This can be attributed to multiple factors, including a Sunday release rather than the usual Friday, which slightly dampened the effect of advance bookings. Additionally, while A.R. Murugadoss is a celebrated director, his style of filmmaking caters more to a pan-India audience rather than Salman’s traditional Eid release appeal, which thrives on high-octane action and mass entertainment.
However, Sikandar has still managed to surpass Race 3 (Rs. 28.50 crore), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Rs. 27.25 crore), and Kick (Rs. 26.40 crore), proving its strong box office pull. Unlike Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which grew tremendously based on word of mouth, Sikandar has the advantage of Eid festivities to drive collections higher in the coming days.
With the holiday boost yet to take full effect; Sikandar has ample room to capitalize on positive audience reception. If it follows the trajectory of previous Salman Khan blockbusters, the film could witness a sharp surge in collections, potentially joining the ranks of his highest-grossing films in the long run. The coming days will determine whether Sikandar can climb higher in Salman Khan’s box office hierarchy, but for now, it stands as a promising Eid entertainer with significant earning potential.
Salman Khan’s Top 10 Highest Opening Day Grossers at a glance
Tiger 3 – Rs. 44.50 cr
Bharat – Rs. 42.30 cr
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – Rs. 40.35 cr
Sultan – Rs. 36.54 cr
Tiger Zinda Hai – Rs. 34.10 cr
Ek Tha Tiger – Rs. 32.93 cr
Sikandar – Rs. 30.06 cr
Race 3 – Rs. 28.50 cr
Bajrangi Bhaijaan – Rs. 27.25 cr
Kick – Rs. 26.40 cr
