Suggested Topics :
'Sikandar' Box-Office: All Eyes on Salman Khan as ₹500 Crore Becomes New Benchmark; Will the Superstar Deliver?
Incidentally, the ₹100 crore club began with Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini', which was helmed by AR Murugadoss, who has also directed 'Sikandar'.
Salman Khan is a man who boasts of several records. The Bollywood superstar is the only actor to have delivered 17 consecutive films netting above ₹100 crore since his blockbuster comeback with Dabangg in 2010. But 15 years later, the box-office landscape has changed, and Salman's last few films have failed to score big. The goal now is to get into the coveted ₹500 crore club, which Salman has missed twice— with Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan and Tiger 3—since Pathaan created the new benchmark in 2023. Can he finally turn it around with his upcoming Eid release Sikandar?
"Masses adore him and there is no doubt that his fans are fiercely loyal, which is why he has these records. But is there massive pressure now? Yes," trade critic Taran Adarsh told The Hollywood Reporter India. "Some of his contemporaries have delivered huge numbers at the box-office and have raised the bar so high, including younger actors, that all eyes are naturally on him now".
In 2023, Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan became the first film to open the ₹500 crore club, followed by films like Gadar 2, Animal, Stree 2, and the recent Chaava, which made a huge box-office splash.
Incidentally, the ₹100 crore club began with Aamir Khan's Ghajini (2008), which was helmed by AR Murugadoss, who has also directed Sikandar.
"Salman can get you an opening, but then everything else depends on Murugadoss. If he has managed to make a quintessential, multi-genre Salman film, which doesn't preach and is thoroughly entertaining, the film can do well," Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan told The Hollywood Reporter India.
Trade sources, however, note that not all the visual units of Sikandar, backed by Sajid Nadiadwala, have clicked. The songs have been underwhelming, while the teaser couldn't land as expected.
"The trailer has been the best asset so far, but then the overall campaign hasn't been anything extraordinary. The buzz seems good... much better than Salman's last Eid outing, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023). The film has been designed to attract his fanbase, so it is sitting on a huge potential as it opens on Sunday, followed by the Eid holiday on Monday," Chauhan added.
Also Read | Vijay’s Final Film ‘Jana Nayagan’ to Release in January 2026
According to trade estimates, Sikandar is looking to open above ₹40 crore. His previous film, Tiger 3, was also a Sunday release during 2023 Diwali and netted ₹44 crore on day one.
"But one can't give a definitive range as of yet, as in mass pockets, spot bookings will be high on the day of the release. But, ideally, it should go above ₹50 crore," Adarsh said, noting that a big star like him will have to deliver numbers.
"If you look at the optics, Sikandar has everything going for it: Teaming up with the director of Ghajini, reuniting with Sajid Nadiadwala after Kick, and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, who is on sensational a roll with Animal, Pushpa 2: The Rule and Chaava. So, there is no excuse now. Honestly, giving a ₹100 film is no value for him; it is the benchmark for a newcomer these days. So, I genuinely hope for the health of the industry that we get a big hit in Sikandar and the film is well made. Because to reach a higher box-office level, you need the content by your side, as a film is ripped apart today by the afternoon of day one," the trade critic added.
Also Read | Casting the Net Wide: How Casting Directors in India Are Changing the Game
The film will have a clear run of 10 days till Sunny Deol's Jaat arrives on April 10, followed by Kesari Chapter 2 on April 18. If Sikandar gets a good word of mouth, the film will bulldoze the competition.
"See, Salman Khan has never pushed the envelope too much, the way Aamir and Shah Rukh have. Salman is a natural superstar, his stardom is raw, and that is reflected in his brand of cinema. Films are an excuse to watch him do what he does best. So if Sikandar delivers that, there is no stopping it," Chauhan added.