Salman Khan’s Sikandar opens slow amid poor reviews, leak; will it meet Radhe’s fate?

Off to a muted start, Salman Khan-starrer Sikandar recorded a net collection of ₹26 crore across India on Sunday, according to box office data provider Sacnilk. As of now, the film has collected ₹3.68 crore on Monday. 

This is lower than Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava’s Day 1 collection, which was ₹31 crore on a Friday. In fact, Chhaava had amassed ₹48.5 crore on its first Sunday. Meanwhile, the Akshay Kumar's Skyforce had earned ₹12.25 crore on its opening day, also a Friday, and went on to collect ₹28 crore on its first Sunday. 

Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, Sikandar is produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Salman Khan Films. The movie features Salman Khan in the lead role, alongside Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, and Prateik Babbar in pivotal roles. This marks Khan’s first film in two years after Tiger 3, which achieved an all-time worldwide gross collection of ₹466.63 crore. Released on Diwali, Tiger 3 made an impressive ₹44.50 crore on its opening day. 

Sikandar follows the story of Sanjay Rajkot, a benevolent king known as Sikandar, portrayed by Salman Khan. After a tragic conflict with a powerful minister results in his wife's death, Sanjay embarks on a mission to protect the recipients of her donated organs, facing numerous challenges along the way. 

The Hollywood Reporter India described the film as a “dying breed of Bollywood vice” and remarked that “the acting all around is so robotic that AI would humanise it.” Beyond THR India, the film has largely received negative reviews, with critics citing a weak storyline and poor execution. While it attempts to blend action with social commentary, it ultimately falls short due to its predictable narrative and lacklustre delivery. Given the early reception, Sikandar appears unlikely to follow the success of Tiger 3 and may instead meet the fate of Radhe, another one of Khan’s recent misfires. 

A major factor contributing to the film’s muted start, aside from its mediocre reviews, could be its online leak a day before its theatrical release. Just hours before its official release on March 30, Sikandar fell victim to online piracy, with the movie being leaked across various platforms mere hours before it hit theatres. 

The producer took swift action, working with authorities to have the film removed from 600 websites last night. However, by then, the damage had already been done. Despite efforts to contain the leak, the illegal distribution continued to spread, as confirmed by trade analyst Komal Nahta on X.