Sikandar Tanks at the Box Office—What’s Next for Bollywood?

A Setback Among Current Movies in Theaters

Salman Khan’s much-anticipated Sikandar is facing a tough time at the box office. After a promising start, the film has seen a drastic fall in collections, with Day 4 netting a mere ₹6.52 crore (till writing of the article) in India. The movie, which opened to ₹26 crore on its first Sunday, witnessed a steady decline—₹29 crore on Monday, followed by a sharp 32.76% drop on Tuesday with ₹19.5 crore. With a total India net collection of ₹81.02 crore so far, the film seems unlikely to sustain momentum in the coming days. Considering its reported budget of ₹200 crore, Sikandar is heading toward an underwhelming box office outcome.

A Massive Drop in Collections for One of the Top Movies in Theaters Now

Sikandar’s worldwide collection stands at ₹123.75 crore, including an overseas haul of ₹35 crore and an India gross of ₹88.75 crore. While these numbers might seem decent on paper, the trend suggests that the film is struggling to hold its audience. Despite opening strong, it has failed to maintain footfalls beyond the opening weekend. Even with Salman Khan’s massive fan base, word-of-mouth and audience reception have significantly impacted its run at the box office.

Comparing Sikandar with other current movies in theaters, it becomes evident that the audience is becoming more selective. Films with compelling narratives and fresh concepts, like Chhaava, have found favor with moviegoers, while star-driven projects lacking strong storytelling are failing to create lasting impressions.

Negative Buzz and Early Leak Impacting Performance

One of the major setbacks for Sikandar was the overwhelming negative response from critics and audiences alike. Reviews have been largely unfavorable, with many criticizing the film’s lackluster screenplay and predictable storyline. Even die-hard Salman Khan fans seem unimpressed, reducing the chances of repeat viewership, which is crucial for a film’s long-term box office performance.

Adding to the film’s woes, Sikandar reportedly leaked online just before its release, further impacting its earnings. In an era where piracy remains a persistent issue, early leaks can significantly affect a film’s revenue, as many potential viewers opt for illegal streams instead of heading to the theater.

What’s Next for Salman Khan After Consecutive Underperformers?

With Sikandar struggling, questions arise about Salman Khan’s future at the box office. Over the past few years, his films have not been able to replicate the staggering success of his earlier blockbusters. The trend indicates that audiences are looking beyond mere star power and demanding fresh, engaging content. This raises the question—will Salman Khan reinvent himself and experiment with different genres, or will he stick to the tried-and-tested mass-action formula?

For Bollywood, the failure of Sikandar is a sign of a changing industry, where audiences no longer flock to theaters simply for big stars. The industry must adapt by producing innovative stories that appeal to modern sensibilities rather than relying on formulaic storytelling.