Superstar Salman Khan plans to make this Eid grand for his fans with Sikandar. The action-packed film, directed by AR Murugadoss, started advance booking on March 27 and earned over Rs10 crore on the first day.
However, sales slowed down later, raising doubts about whether it can beat Tiger 3’s record-breaking Rs 43 crore opening.
Trade Feels Sikandar Has Pressure To Deliver
Industry experts believe Sikandar has several advantages. It’s a festival release, it features Salman in a massy role, and Murugadoss is known for his action thrillers. But despite these factors, the film faces tough competition in matching Tiger 3’s massive opening.
A trade analyst shared his thoughts and said, “There are lots of factors going in Sikandar’s favour – it’s an Eid release, it stars Salman, and AR Murugadoss is the director. The assets may not have tracked as expected, but Sajid Nadiadwala [producer] and Salman know the pulse of the audience. Spot bookings will be the main focus. Since Tiger 3 made Rs 43 crore, Sikandar has the pressure to not settle at a final figure of Rs 25 crore [on Day One]. It has to top Tiger 3, which will be a challenge.”
Unlike Tiger 3, which was part of the YRF Spy Universe, Sikandar is a standalone film. Some believe this could limit its multiplex appeal. However, single-screen theatres (especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities) are expected to be the film’s stronghold.
Manoj Desai (executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy) remains confident. “Salman’s films have an unmatched pull in single screens. His fans don’t care about reviews or box-office comparisons; they come for the experience. They should increase the number of screens; Bhai’s film on Eid is bound to do well.”
Premium Pricing Strategy On Salman Khan Starrer
One of the biggest discussions surrounding Sikandar is its aggressive pricing strategy in major cities. Some premium multiplexes in Mumbai and Delhi have set ticket prices as high as Rs 2400.
An industry insider questioned this approach and said, “This is a terrible idea. It may work for the first three days, but it’s unaffordable for the masses. Salman’s core audience isn’t the elite; it’s the common man.”
For comparison, Tiger 3 had ticket prices reaching Rs 2500, while Pushpa 2 is reportedly touching Rs 3000 in some multiplexes.
Despite slow advances, Sikandar still has a strong chance as there’s a day left for pre-sales to end. Furthermore, if spot bookings gain momentum and single-screen audiences turn up in large numbers, it could still post a solid opening.
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