Salman Khan’s highly anticipated film, Sikandar, co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, is set to release worldwide on March 30, 2025, coinciding with the festive occasion of Eid. This action drama has already generated significant buzz, with advance booking figures indicating a promising start at the box office.
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Sikandar has sold approximately 2.2 lakh tickets for its Hindi version ahead of its release, translating to an advance booking revenue of around ₹6.46 crore. When accounting for blocked seats, often referred to as self-buying, the figure rises to approximately ₹13.53 crore. The film is slated for over 8,000 shows across India in Hindi, indicating a widespread release.
Current projections estimate that Sikandar could amass approximately ₹28 crore on its opening day. While this figure is about ₹18 crore less than the opening day collection of Salman’s previous release, Tiger 3, it surpasses the debut earnings of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, which underperformed at the box office. The film’s release during Eid, a period traditionally favorable for Salman Khan’s films, is expected to bolster its performance.
Trade analysts have varied predictions for Sikandar‘s opening day collection. Some foresee earnings between ₹34-38 crore net in India, acknowledging this as a strong start but noting it falls short of recent Bollywood blockbusters’ benchmarks. Others are more optimistic, projecting daily collections of ₹40-45 crore, contingent upon audience reception and word-of-mouth.
Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, Sikandar boasts a star-studded cast including Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, and Prateik Babbar. As the film hits theaters, all eyes will be on its box office performance to see if it meets, exceeds, or falls short of these projections. The festive release and Salman’s enduring popularity are expected to play pivotal roles in determining the film’s success.
Salman Khan’s Sikandar is releasing across India on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The film has sold about 2.2 lakh tickets already for the Hindi version, translating to around ₹6.46 crore. Including blocked seats, the film has earned about ₹13.53 crore. Sikandar has over 8,000 shows in Hindi across India, and current projections put the film’s opening day haul at ₹28 crore, which is about ₹18 crore less than the opening day collections of Tiger 3.
Interestingly, Salman Khan hasn’t had a clean hit in theaters since 2017’s Tiger Zinda Hai. The actor desperately needs a win, especially after having braved years’ worth of negative comments about his stardom and its perceived decline. Salman is synonymous with the Eid festival, and his fans turn out in droves to catch his movies on the big screen. However, it’s the quality of the movie itself that will define its future, as recent years have seen his fans disappointed by his creative output.
Unlike Salman, his co-star Rashmika Mandanna has been on a dream box office run. Her last three films—Animal, Pushpa 2: The Rule, and Chhaava—have made over ₹3,400 crore worldwide. This puts additional expectations on Sikandar to perform well at the box office.
Salman Khan is also a fixture on television, hosting the reality show Bigg Boss. Many have attributed his declining box office returns to some form of over-exposure on television. However, with Sikandar, he aims to reclaim his status as a box office titan.
The film has garnered unprecedented enthusiasm internationally, with advance bookings in foreign countries reportedly selling out within hours. In Indian cinemas, tickets for Sikandar are being sold for prices between ₹700 and ₹2,100, reflecting the high demand.
In the lead-up to the release, the filmmakers unveiled the romantic track “Hum Aapke Bina,” featuring Salman and leading lady Rashmika Mandanna. Sung by Arijit Singh, composed by Pritam, and penned by Sameer, the song has resonated with audiences, adding to the film's hype.
As the film approaches its release date, the industry is buzzing with predictions and expectations. Salman Khan’s return to the big screen after Tiger 3 is highly anticipated, and Sikandar is being touted as one of Bollywood’s biggest releases this year. The film is set to hit over 5,500 screens across India, with an estimated 22,000+ shows, the highest ever for a Bollywood title.
As of March 29, 2025, the film has sold approximately 300,000 tickets, grossing around ₹9 crore, making it the second-biggest advance booking of 2025, behind Vicky Kaushal's Chhaava. The film will take advantage of the Eid holiday on Monday, and early trends suggest a massive opening.
Despite a slow start in advance bookings, Sikandar has gained momentum in the last 24 hours. Sacnilk predicts that the film will cross the ₹30 crore net mark on day one. With a festive release and Salman’s stardom, Sikandar has a strong chance to match or even surpass Chhaava’s opening. The final verdict, however, will depend on how the audience responds on release day.
As Salman Khan himself noted, the success of Sikandar will hinge on its content and audience reception. With the film set to share its box office numbers with the Mohanlal starrer L2: Empuraan, the competition will be fierce. Regardless, the excitement surrounding Sikandar is palpable, and fans are eager to see if this film will mark the return of Salman Khan's dominance at the box office.
In summary, Sikandar is positioned as a major player in the upcoming box office landscape, with the potential to reshape Salman Khan's career trajectory and reaffirm his status as a leading figure in Bollywood.
