Udaipur, April 10, 2025: Salman Khan's Sikander was considered one of the most anticipated Bollywood films of the year. The movie was released with great fanfare on Eid, and the audience had high expectations for the action-packed film directed by AR Murugadoss. This was reflected in the advance ticket sales. However, the film's disappointing start on its opening day led to poor results overall. Sikander earned only Rs 26 Cr on its first day, which is considered a bad start for Salman and any major Bollywood film in today’s market.

The mixed reactions to the box office results have raised questions. Some believe the film's lack of organization affected its performance, while others suggest that piracy may have played a role in its poor showing. The Times of India published a report exploring the exact reasons behind Sikander's box office failure.

It was expected that a film starring Bollywood Bhaijaan, especially during Eid, would perform better. However, no one anticipated it would stumble this badly.

The film has disappointed not only its fans but also Indian film critics, who have pointed out several reasons behind its box office decline.

1. Weak Script and Poor Content

Many film experts feel that the biggest reason for Sikander’s failure was its weak story. Even Salman Khan’s star power couldn’t save it. Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh said,

“The script and content were not strong. That’s why despite early interest, the film did not work. The first day was okay, and Eid gave it a slight push on the second and third days. But after that, the movie crashed badly.”

2. Negative Feedback from Audience

Usually, Salman's films create a festive mood, especially in single-screen theatres like Gaiety Galaxy. But this time, things were different.

Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir Cinema, said:

“The film felt like a copy of another story. The heroine’s role ended too quickly. I didn’t watch the film myself, but people leaving the theatre told me they were disappointed.”

3. Piracy Hit the Business

Piracy was also a big reason for the film’s failure. Many avoided theatres as pirated versions were already available.

Manoj Desai added,

“These days, people prefer to wait and watch on OTT. Piracy has made them skip cinema halls. Even Salman’s name couldn’t change that.”

4. Songs Lacked Impact

The film had songs like ‘Sikander Naache’, ‘Zohra Zabin’ and ‘Hum Aapke Bina’, but they didn’t leave a mark.

The lyrics were average, and the music lacked energy. Many believe that with better promotion, the songs could have helped attract more viewers.

Box Office Numbers

Day 1: ₹26 crore

Day 2 (Eid): ₹29 crore

April 1: ₹19 crore

April 4: Just ₹3.5 crore

10-day total (India): ₹106 crore

Cast and Team

Sikander starred Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, who worked together for the first time. It was also Salman’s first collaboration with Ghajini director AR Murugadoss. Other cast members included Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, Kajal Aggarwal, Prateik Babbar, and Anjini Dhawan.