Showing posts with label Sikandar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sikandar. Show all posts
Dhurandhar: The Revenge sets record for highest advance at national chains in 2025-26
10:36 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE has already set a record for the highest advance at the national chains over the last year or so. This is just five days of advance and its not even a full day and there six more days of advances to go. The collections at these national chains stand at a phenomenal 10.50 crore nett and for the record a historic blockbuster like PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE had managed 14.50 crore nett for its first day which should be covered sometime over the weekend. The best over the last year was CHHAAVA at 2.25 lakh tickets and that is the only film getting over 2 lakhs.
The last part of DHURANDHAR got to 1.77 lakhs but that has to be taken with a pinch of salt as there was plenty of feeding and the figures of BAAGHI 4 are also manipulated to an even higher degree than DHURANDHAR.
The pace of advances even in these chains is slowing but that is basically as they don't really have anywhere there to go as where there is less sensitivity to price, the tickets are practically gone. Now, its about the other places and here the public here is waiting for the plans to open in full and the lower pricing though it will still be higher than any film has seen in the past.
The advances for national chains over the last year are as follows.
1. Dhurandhar The Revenge - 2,29,00,000
2. Chhaava - 2,25,00,000
3. Saiyaara - 1,95,00,000
4. Dhurandhar - 1,77,00,000
5. Baaghi 4 - 1,56,00,000
6. War 2 - 1,53,00,000
7. Sikandar - 1,45,00,000
8. Border 2 - 1,42,00,000
9. Housefull 5 - 96,00,000
10. Raid 2 - 93,00,000
Western Railway earns record Rs 1.72 crore from film shoots
4:16 PM
Rajendra B Aklekar (MID-DAY; February 21, 2026)
Western Railway (WR) has earned a record Rs 1.72 crore from film and advertisement shoots on its premises from April 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026. According to officials, the process of granting shooting permissions has been simplified and streamlined, enabling production houses and filmmakers to obtain necessary approvals in a time-bound manner.
An official said this is one of several innovative initiatives to boost non-fare revenue, while consistently striving to increase revenue from passengers and freight business.
“Through a single-window system, production houses have to submit an application for shooting, and every other railway clearance is managed by the PR department, and permission is issued. At the same time, utmost priority is given to safety, operational requirements and passenger convenience while conducting such shooting activities,” a WR official said.
How much money?
The Rs 1.72 crore raked in by WR is almost 25 per cent more than the previous financial year’s earnings. The previous best performance was in 2022-23, when WR earned approximately Rs 1.64 crore from film shooting, reflecting steady growth in this segment and placing WR among the leading railway zones in the country in generating such revenue
Films shot on locations
O'Romeo - 2026
Fateh - 2025
Sikandar - 2025
Vande Bharat for film shoots
For the first time, film shooting inside India’s modern and premium train, Vande Bharat, has been permitted by WR. This achievement provided the film industry with an opportunity to utilise world-class railway infrastructure, highlighting the progressive and innovative approach of WR
Pass box office test or take a pay cut: Streamers get tough on flops
10:43 PM
Platforms start dropping floor prices and cutting base rates for films underperforming in theatres
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; January 2, 2026)
Streaming platforms have begun to do away with a fixed base or floor price (a minimum guaranteed payment) for films underperforming in theatres and have reduced base prices by 25–50%, in a move that could bring greater transparency and create a level playing field in the sharing of risks associated with box office outcomes, veteran distributors, independent streaming consultants and producers told ET.
According to distributors and trade analysts, after Sikandar (Hindi) and Thug Life (Tamil), the latest film to see a reduction in its base price is Akhanda 2: Thaandavam (Telugu).
They said that Netflix revised the film’s base price downward by 25% to Rs 67.5 crore from Rs 90 crore after its underperformance in theatres.
“Today, streamers immediately revise a film’s base price if it underperforms in theatres,” explained Suniel Wadhwa, co-founder & director, Karmic Films. “Platforms now read theatrical performance as a sign of audience rejection or acceptance. Box office success is not a validation today but rather a risk filter,” added Wadhwa.
This move by streamers reflects their sharp focus on profitability after having paid irrational prices for films to expand their libraries, materially impacting their profitability.
Today, digital rights are the fundamental trigger for producers to start a film, as these rights provide 40–80% of total film income. Given this noteworthy contribution, streamers came up with slab-wise revenue payments, which meant that beyond a fixed base price (arrived at after considering the average performance of past films of actors and producers), a film gets an additional upside (bonus) of 10–15% for every box office collection milestone set by the platform and the producer.
“It is a fair deal. If makers get an upside, then they must be prepared for a downward revision of the base price if a film flops in theatres,” said veteran filmmaker Vipul Amritlal Shah.
Distributors said that this move by streamers has emerged from poor responses to underperforming films on their platforms.
“In a way, the downward revision of the base price from a fixed base price will keep in check tactics such as block booking of tickets or releasing films on streamers before the eight-week window to recover cash, as practiced by producers,” said film distributor and trade analyst Shaaminder Malik. “Also, flop films do not provide incremental subscribers to streamers,” added Malik.
Another reason for the downward revision in a film’s base price is the fall in streamers’ appetite for content after recent consolidation. Consequently, power has shifted from producers to streamers.
“After the recent consolidation, the appetite for content among streamers is not as high as it was three years ago. Today, they have more realistic criteria for buying films,” said Shrirang Nargund, an independent streaming consultant.
There is a section of producers that believes that if a streamer revises a film’s base price downward, it should not release the film on its platform before the eight-week window.
“If a streamer reduces a film’s base price, then it must not insist on releasing it on its platform before the eight-week window. They must allow a film to stay in theatres. It may contain losses. The idea is to buy the right film at the right price,” said producer Rajesh R. Nair.
Salman Khan's Being Haangryy vans serve free meals for the unit on sets of Battle Of Galwan
9:18 AM
With his remodelled Being Haangry vans serving as mobile kitchens on ‘Battle Of Galwan’ set, Salman Khan provides fresh meals to the unit, free of cost
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 26, 2025)
During the pandemic-induced lockdown in 2020, Salman Khan came up with the idea of deploying food trucks to provide ration kits to the underprivileged and meals to the frontline workers across the city. Five years on, the purpose of his food trucks, Being Haangryy, has expanded.
We’ve learnt that the superstar has redesigned two vans to include fully equipped kitchens. These serve as mobile kitchens on the sets of his films, including Battle Of Galwan, providing fresh meals not only to Khan, but also to the entire unit.
On sets, Khan was often known to bring large quantities of home-cooked food every day, sharing it with his staff and visitors. The idea of having a food truck on the set struck him as he didn’t like the practice of different food being served to unit hands.
A source shares, “Every production has three different types of food served on the set — one for the stars, another for technicians and HoDs, and the third for unit hands. Salman got increasingly uncomfortable with this distinction. So, beginning with Sikandar’s shoot earlier this year, he decided to bring one Being Haangry van on set daily, thus providing the entire unit access to the same food that he eats. The meals are provided free of cost, and are an option outside of those served by the production team.”
With the remodelled vans including a kitchen and cold storage, customized food is now an order away. Two cooks run the kitchen during a shift, offering meals that range from staples like dal, rice and vegetables, to avocado sandwiches, and of course, the actor’s all-time favourite — mutton biryani.
The source adds, “The fully functional kitchen can be used to cook for 500 people. There is a wide range of dishes on offer — from methi ki sabzi or aloo matar, to fish curry and rice, and healthier options preferred by the younger crew members. Providing clean and healthy food is the priority. They provide coffee too.”
Movie shoots aside, Khan uses these vans while filming for Bigg Boss.
"Meri pasaliyan tooti thi": Salman Khan’s jibe after A R Murugadoss accuses him of being tardy
9:25 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (October 14, 2025)
Salman Khan threw shade at Sikandar director AR Murugadoss over his remarks about the challenges of working with the actor.
During a Weekend Ka Vaar episode on Bigg Boss 19, Salman was asked to name any films he regrets doing. The 59-year-old actor cited Suryavanshi and Nishchay (both from 1992). But when nudged to mention a more recent title, Salman said, “Log kehte hain Sikandar, par main nahi manta; uska plot bahut acha tha.”
Referencing Murugadoss’s claims of Salman arriving on set at 9 pm and being difficult to work with, the actor continued, “Lekin kya hai na, main set pe raat ke 9 baje pahuchta tha, toh usme gadbad ho gayi. Meri pasaliyan tooti thi, isliye jo hamare director sahab hain unhone ye kaha.”
He then took a dig at the director’s latest film, Madharaasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, sarcastically noting that the lead actor was reportedly on set by 6 am, but the film still failed to deliver: “Bahut badi film hai aur utni hi badi… Sikandar se badi blockbuster.”
Despite a massive Rs. 80 crore budget, Madharaasi earned only Rs. 98.48 crore. Meanwhile, Sikandar flopped at the box office, earning just Rs. 103.45 crore against its Rs. 200 crore budget, and was widely panned as one of Salman’s weakest films.
‘Kaam mila kya bhai?’
On the same episode, Salman also responded to filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap’s allegations, saying, “Ek Dabangg insaan hai. Mere saath Aamir (Khan, actor) ko bhi lapet liya. Pichle Weekend Ka Vaar pe maine bola tha, ‘Kaam karo yaar, nobody’s interested.’ Aaj wapas poochna chahta hoon, ‘Kaam mila kya bhai?’” While acknowledging that Abhinav’s remarks hurt him, Salman maintained that he is a talented filmmaker who should focus on his work.
The actor then spoke about the rumours of a long-standing feud with singer Arijit Singh, dismissing it as a mere misunderstanding: “Arijit aur main bahut achhe dost hain. That misunderstanding had happened from my side. After that, he even sang songs for me in Tiger 3, and now in Battle Of Galwan.”
A R Murugadoss talks about Sikandar’s failure: "When we make films in our mother tongue, it gives us strength"
8:58 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (August 1, 2025)
Salman Khan’s last release, Sikandar, turned out to be a big dud at the box office, with the film failing to impress both critics and audiences. Now, filmmaker A R Murugadoss has broken his silence on the film’s underwhelming reception, sharing his perspective on what might have gone wrong.
The filmmaker spoke about the film during the promotion of his upcoming project, Madharaasi, where he shared that he blamed his inability to understand Hindi as the reason behind the film’s failure.
A R Murugadoss said, “When we make films in our mother tongue, it gives us strength. We know what is happening here. Today there’s a trend going and suddenly the audience gets connected with that trend. When we shift language, we don’t know what the youngsters are enjoying in that language. All we need is a script to believe it.”
He added, “For once, I can take up Telugu films, but Hindi may not work for us because after we write the script, they translate into English. Then it is again translated in Hindi. We can only guess what they are saying, but we are exactly not sure about what is happening. When you make film in an unknown language and place, it feels like you are handicapped. It is like you don’t have hands. I strongly believe our strength depends on where and the culture we belong to.”
Sikandar tells the story of a man called Sanjay Rajkot, who takes on a corrupt politician, upending his life. Helmed by A R Murugadoss, the action drama also featured Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, and Sathyaraj in key roles.
Filmmakers are seeking insurance against piracy losses, but insurers remain reluctant
8:01 AM
Filmmakers are seeking insurance against piracy losses, but insurers remain reluctant to underwrite risk: Industry experts
Rajesh N Naidu & Shilpy Sinha (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; July 2, 2025)
Hindi film producers are increasingly seeking insurance protection against piracy-related losses, particularly for big-budget films, amid reports of significant piracy losses. However, insurers are hesitant to underwrite the risk, industry insiders said.
The issue of piracy has come into focus following reports that producer Sajid Nadiadwala suffered estimated losses of Rs 91 crore due to a leak of Salman Khan-starrer Sikandar, which was released in March.
The film is insured for standard production and liability risks with New India Assurance, people aware of the matter said. However, losses due to unauthorised copying and distribution are not standard inclusions, they noted.
“Studios working on high-budget releases have approached us for piracy cover, particularly during the final edit and digital transfer stages,” said Sumant Salian, business head of media and entertainment at Alliance Insurance Brokers. “The fear of content leaks before release is growing.”
According to a recent Media Partners Asia report, if piracy remains unchecked, revenue losses of the digital video industry in India are likely to double to $2.4 billion, or about Rs 20,565.5 crore, by 2029 from $1.2 billion in 2024.
“Piracy continues to impact revenues. It is crucial that producers put in an explicit clause covering anti-piracy losses and enforcement costs while opting for film distribution insurance,” said Suniel Wadhwa, a veteran film distributor.
“There are discussions going on between producers and insurance companies to obtain cover for film piracy,” he said.
However, while the demand for piracy cover is both legitimate and increasingly urgent, insurers face significant hurdles in addressing it. For one, it is difficult to quantify losses due to piracy, they said.
“There is demand for piracy cover, especially after the piracy of Hindi films such as Udta Punjab (2016). But insurers are reluctant to underwrite first-party piracy risk, as it is difficult to quantify and prove losses,” a senior executive at an insurance broker said, requesting anonymity. “Unless a policy is explicitly structured to protect a producer from film piracy and associated losses, an insurance company would not respond,” the executive added.
Some producers believe that they should combat piracy through systemic changes rather than relying on piracy insurance coverage.
“I think we need to fight piracy by bringing in stringent laws instead of recovering losses from piracy cover. Piracy is deeply entrenched... I think a piracy cover will make producers complacent,” producer Rajesh R Nair said. “Also, a piracy cover is an additional cost to producers at a time when there are funding challenges. Granting the industry ‘industry’ status can eradicate these problems,” he added.
Globally, too, most film producers primarily rely on anti-piracy enforcement rather than specialized insurance products to address piracy risks. “Pirates typically target big films,” Nair said.
While there is no dedicated standalone anti-piracy insurance, in the US, insurers offer optional anti-piracy riders with their customizable error & omission and cyber Insurance policies for films, a film distributor said, requesting anonymity.
In India, the film industry typically relies on two main types of insurance – for production and distribution.
Film production insurance typically covers delays, cast or crew illness, equipment damage, and liability under errors and omissions (E&O) policies. Film distribution insurance, on the other hand, protects against damage or loss of film prints or digital masters, delays in theatrical releases, business interruptions, and losses arising from leaks or piracy before release or during the early stages of digital roll-out.
Producers estimate that 10-15% of Hindi films opt for film insurance each year.
TechSci Research, a consulting and market research firm, estimates that the total Indian entertainment insurance market will grow to $373.8 billion, or about Rs 32.03 lakh crore, by 2030, from $181.6 billion, or about Rs 15.14 lakh crore, in 2024.
First six months of 2025 a mixed bag for the box office
10:59 AM
The first six months of 2025 have been a mixed bag for the box office, with small films working, and heavyweight projects tanking
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 1, 2025)
The first six months of 2025 have been a roller-coaster ride for India, with the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s brave response in the form of Operation Sindoor being everyone’s focus. However, the film business remained unaffected. According to an Ormax report, the cumulative total for 2025’s releases, till May, stood at Rs. 4,812 crore, 27% higher than the same period in 2024.
JANUARY
Actor Sonu Sood’s Fateh (Rs. 12.85 crore), Rasha Thadani and Aaman Devgan-starrer Azaad (Rs. 6.32 crore), actor Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency (Rs. 16.52 crore) and actor Shahid Kapoor’s Deva couldn’t set the cash registers ringing. Sky Force featuring Akshay Kumar did manage to break even.
FEBRUARY
Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava became this year’s highest grosser so far. Made on a budget of Rs. 130 crore, the period drama earned Rs. 600 crore. Actors Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor’s Loveyapa only collected Rs. 7 crore, against a budget of Rs. 60 crore.
MARCH-APRIL
While Sunny Deol’s Jaat (Rs. 89.50 crore) and Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2 did well, Salman Khan’s Sikandar, made on a budget of Rs. 200 crore, failed.
MAY
Ajay Devgn-starrer Raid 2 did well with Rs. 173.28 crore. Also, Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi’s Bhool Chuk Maaf had a decent run with Rs. 74.18 crore.
JUNE
June had two clean hits so far — Housefull 5 and actor Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which has been running successfully. Actor Kajol’s horror-mythological drama Maa got a slow start.
“Barring Chhaava, we have not had a true blockbuster. Raid 2 and Jaat did well. I hope the second half is better. I feel the smaller and medium-budget films need to do well in theatres, as we don’t have a big release every week. Bhool Chuk Maaf did well in the two-week window it had between theatrical and digital release.”
- Taran Adarsh, Trade analyst
“2025 has not been so good. Sikandar not working was a shock. Kesari Chapter 2 and Housefull 5 worked. Before the pandemic, such films would run, not just work. We are still struggling, businesswise.”
- Atul Mohan, Trade analyst
“The first half of 2025 saw strong theatrical momentum, led by Chhaava, Raid 2, Bhool Chuk Maaf, Kesari Chapter 2, Sitaare Zameen Par and Jaat. Hollywood also contributed with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning becoming the first Hollywood release to cross ₹100 crore in 2025 and a solid performance by Final Destination Bloodlines and How to Train Your Dragon. Regional cinema, including Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films, contributed ₹3,600 crore to the box office.”
- Devang Sampat, Managing Director, Cinepolis India
BIG HITS
Chhaava - Rs. 600.10 crore
Raid 2 - Rs. 178.08 crore
Sky Force - Rs. 131.44 crore
Housefull 5 - Rs. 156.40 crore
Kesari Chapter 2 - Rs. 93.28 crore
Sitaare Zameen Par - Rs. 107.68 crore
BIG MISSES
Sikandar - Rs. 103.45 crore
Deva - Rs. 32.07 crore
Loveyapa - 7.04 crore
(Figures as per all-India collections, according to trade estimates and Bollywood Hungama)
From Raid 2 to Jaat: Pirates strike films just before the premiere
9:34 AM
Theatres, streaming industry lost Rs. 13,700 cr and Rs. 8,700 crore, respectively, in 2023 due to piracy: Report
Rajesh N Naidu & Rashmi Rajput (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; May 20, 2025)
Marquee Hindi films such as Sikandar, Jaat, Raid 2 and The Bhootnii were leaked online, kneecapping their run at the box office at birth.
These films were released on pirated and illegal web sites and applications on Thursday, a day before their formal release, bucking a pirating practice of releasing new films a day after their run at cinemas.
"There is a growing trend of movies, especially Hindi and Tamil films, being leaked on the day before the release. In such cases, the role of an insider is suspected," said a senior Maharashtra police officer.
"Piracy before the day of release of a film implies that it is an insider job. There are three channels through which a film can get leaked. They are post-production studios, content delivery agencies and nefarious elements in exhibition companies," said Girish Wankhede, a movie trade analyst.
A recent EY study with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) showed that 51% of media consumers access content from pirated sources. There are four key sources of piracy: illegal streaming platforms, mobile applications, spreading of pirated links on social media, and torrents.
The report noted that instant messaging platform Telegram is a widely preferred platform for consumers of pirated content and pirates alike as it allows transfer of files up to 2 GB. According to the report, in 2023, theatres and the streaming industry lost Rs 13,700 crore and Rs 8,700 crore respectively due to piracy.
Producers said the new trend of piracy before release is largely connected with how strong the buzz or interest that a film has generated before its release.
“A pre-release leak is not just piracy—it is economic sabotage. It destroys a film’s theatrical potential, jeopardizes digital (streaming) and satellite deals, and kills audience curiosity before the first show,” said Suniel Wadhwa, co-founder & director, Karmic Films. "The buzz or interest around a film is a key factor whether a film's print gets leaked before or after its release," Wadhwa added.
Industry veterans said it was critical to follow a multi-layered approach which covers legality, technology and systemic aspects associated with piracy. They suggest that the increasing use of AI and collaboration with technology companies such as BLOCK X Technologies, which spot sites and other sources of pirated content, must be the norm in the industry to reduce piracy in the industry.
"To avoid piracy, with help of right stakeholders, we are working on a technology which will break a movie into three parts and these three parts can only be joined with a password," said Wankhede.
One of the repercussions of rampant piracy is it impacts the earnings' prospects of mid-and-small budget films more than big-budget ones because even after piracy, streamers buy big-budget films.
| Sources of Piracy | Language preferences | ||
| Illegal Streamers | 63% | Hindi | 40% |
| Mobile Apps | 16% | English | 31% |
| Social Media | 10% | South Indian | 23% |
| Torrents | 6% | Others | 6% |
| Others | 5% | ||
| Source: EY-IAMAI anti-piracy report | |||
| Country wise Online Video Piracy (2024) | |
| Country | Piracy users (mn) |
| India | 90.3 |
| Indonesia | 47.5 |
| Philipines | 31.1 |
| Thailand | 18.2 |
| Vietnam | 16 |
| Source: Media Partners Asia report |
I am grateful that Salman Khan believed in me and trusted my abilities-Iulia Vantur
10:55 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; April 24, 2025)
Iulia Vantur, Salman Khan’s rumoured girlfriend, made her debut in India over a decade ago with a cameo in O Teri (2014). Since then, the Romanian actress has made Mumbai her home. Today, she is more focused on music than acting.
She says, “I love performing live, and I’m thrilled to be doing shows finally. I was a part of Yo Yo Honey Singh’s tour, performed with Jason Derulo and opened for Ricky Martin in Dubai last year. Opening for such an international superstar was a dream come true. Life has given me more than I ever imagined. I never thought I’d be singing in Hindi and touring the world.”
Does she feel her association with Salman, at times, has overshadowed her work? “All I can say is that I feel honoured to have been guided by someone who has such vast experience in the industry. I am grateful that he believed in me and trusted my abilities,” says Iulia, who recently reprised the iconic song Lag Ja Gale in Salman’s last release Sikandar.
Ask her about her thoughts on love and marriage, and she replies, “Love is the reason I’m in this world. My life is guided by love, and I’m making decisions based on that.”
Tiger zinda hai aur hamesha rahega, says Akshay Kumar on Salman Khan
8:24 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 17, 2025)
Actor Akshay Kumar came out in support of longtime friend, actor Salman Khan at a screening of his upcoming film Kesari Chapter 2 in Delhi. Salman’s latest release Sikandar underperformed at the box office, adding more fuel to the growing narrative around the decline of star-led films.
When we asked Akshay about this chatter, given how many of Salman’s films are being panned, the 57-year-old said, “Yeh galat baat hai. Aisa hai, aisa ho nahin sakta. Tiger zinda hai aur hamesha rahega. Salman aisi nasal ka tiger hai jo kabhi marr nahin sakta. Mera dost hai — he’ll always be there.”
Besides Sikandar, many of the 59-year-old actor’s films have been criticised by critics and audience alike due to their content and poor box-office collections.
The two actors started their careers around the same time — Akshay with Saugandh (1991) and Salman in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi (1988). They also share a great camaraderie off- and on-screen, featuring together in hits such as Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Jaan-E-Mann (2006).
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 877
5:23 PM
WILL JAAT CROSS THE RS. 100 CRORE MARK?
Sunny Deol’s stardom was getting eroded but it got a boost with the monstrous blockbuster success of Gadar 2. It collected Rs. 515.13 crores and was an all-time grosser for some time until Jawan took over the spot. Yet, what Sunny achieved with the film was a huge feat and hence, his upcoming films now are highly awaited. Jaat is his immediate next after Gadar 2 and hence, the hype is there.
Moreover, Jaat is also an action entertainer and features Sunny Deol in a massy role. His fans love him in this zone and this film delivers the same, that too in abundance, as evident by the trailer. It also stars Randeep Hooda, Viineet Kumar Siingh, Regina Cassandra and Saiyami Kher. It is directed by Gopichand Malineni, a popular Telugu filmmaker. The first look teaser was unveiled during Pushpa 2 and it caught attention. The trailer was launched a few weeks ago and it added to the film’s excitement.
However, the songs have failed. Even the item song featuring Urvashi Rautela didn’t entice the audience. Moreover, the film releases on a Thursday, April 10, possibly on account of Mahavir Jayanti. But it's not a big holiday and most officers will be operational. This will impact its first-day earnings.
Jaat will open in the range of Rs. 7-8 crores. If all goes well, it can open at Rs. 9 crores or even higher. If the film had been released on Friday, it would have surely opened in double digits. Nevertheless, Jaat can score if the reports are positive, leading to healthy collections over the weekend. If it manages to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark, then it’ll be a nice achievement.
Meanwhile, Sikandar crashed big time. While it collected Rs. 8.50 crores last Wednesday, it dropped to Rs. 4.75 crores on Thursday. It further dropped to Rs. 2.75 crores on Friday, shocking the trade and industry. Believe it or not, it still hasn't crossed the Rs. 100 crore mark. The collections until Tuesday, April 8, are Rs. 96.80 crores.
Between Monday and Wednesday, Sikandar's collections are in the range of Rs. 1 crore. Once Jaat releases, it’ll start collecting in lakhs on a daily basis. It’ll finally go past the Rs. 100 crore mark in the coming weekend.
Sunny Deol’s stardom was getting eroded but it got a boost with the monstrous blockbuster success of Gadar 2. It collected Rs. 515.13 crores and was an all-time grosser for some time until Jawan took over the spot. Yet, what Sunny achieved with the film was a huge feat and hence, his upcoming films now are highly awaited. Jaat is his immediate next after Gadar 2 and hence, the hype is there.
Moreover, Jaat is also an action entertainer and features Sunny Deol in a massy role. His fans love him in this zone and this film delivers the same, that too in abundance, as evident by the trailer. It also stars Randeep Hooda, Viineet Kumar Siingh, Regina Cassandra and Saiyami Kher. It is directed by Gopichand Malineni, a popular Telugu filmmaker. The first look teaser was unveiled during Pushpa 2 and it caught attention. The trailer was launched a few weeks ago and it added to the film’s excitement.
However, the songs have failed. Even the item song featuring Urvashi Rautela didn’t entice the audience. Moreover, the film releases on a Thursday, April 10, possibly on account of Mahavir Jayanti. But it's not a big holiday and most officers will be operational. This will impact its first-day earnings.
Jaat will open in the range of Rs. 7-8 crores. If all goes well, it can open at Rs. 9 crores or even higher. If the film had been released on Friday, it would have surely opened in double digits. Nevertheless, Jaat can score if the reports are positive, leading to healthy collections over the weekend. If it manages to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark, then it’ll be a nice achievement.
Meanwhile, Sikandar crashed big time. While it collected Rs. 8.50 crores last Wednesday, it dropped to Rs. 4.75 crores on Thursday. It further dropped to Rs. 2.75 crores on Friday, shocking the trade and industry. Believe it or not, it still hasn't crossed the Rs. 100 crore mark. The collections until Tuesday, April 8, are Rs. 96.80 crores.
Between Monday and Wednesday, Sikandar's collections are in the range of Rs. 1 crore. Once Jaat releases, it’ll start collecting in lakhs on a daily basis. It’ll finally go past the Rs. 100 crore mark in the coming weekend.
I was worried about Salman Khan's response for Lag Ja Gale-Iulia Vantur
9:58 AM
Revealing that Salman Khan is a stickler for perfect pronunciation, Iulia Vantur says she is relieved that he liked her rendition of Lag Ja Gale in Sikandar
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 9, 2025)
Not too long ago, producer Sajid Nadiadwala had heard Iulia Vantur singing Lata Mangeshkar’s iconic track, Lag Ja Gale. He had told Vantur that he’d have her sing it for a film someday. At the time, she didn’t think much of it. But days before Sikandar’s trailer launch, Vantur was in the studio recording the track, just as Nadiadwala had promised.
“I didn’t have time to think about it. He told me, ‘Just go and record the song.’ The [lack of time] was a [blessing] because otherwise I would’ve been worried about singing the ultimate song,” smiles Vantur.
The reprised version appears prominently in Sikandar, with Rashmika Mandanna’s character crooning for Salman Khan. Among the compliments Vantur received, Khan’s reaction particularly relieved her. “I was worried [about his response]. If Salman hears me pronouncing something wrong, he will not leave me until I say it right. That he liked it was a big thing for me,” she says. Vantur, who has lent her voice to many songs for Khan’s films, including Race 3 (2018) and Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai (2021), says she has mixed feelings when recording a track for him.
“There is the pressure of giving your best because you want the other person to succeed. You don’t want to spoil it for them. At the same time, it’s a beautiful feeling because you want to work with people you love and respect. I’m grateful to be a part of the incredible legacy he is giving to his audience.”
Was it heartbreaking then to see Sikandar’s underwhelming box office performance? “I think the movie performed extraordinarily well, considering it was leaked before the release. What I also noticed is that his true fans were there for him,” she reflects.
Ek Tha Tiger? Sikandar is the latest in the series of underwhelming Salman Khan movies
2:53 PM
Rajesh N Naidu (THE TIMES OF INDIA; April 3, 2025)
Mumbai: In director Billy Wilder's classic noir film Sunset Boulevard (1950), the character Norma Desmond, played so sensitively by Gloria Swanson, says: "I am big. It's the pictures that got small." Going by the performance of Hindi films, which rely more on stardom than scripts, it is clear that the audience is sending across an unambiguous message to the moviemakers: The pictures are bigger than the stars. The box-office performance of actor Salman Khan’s recent film Sikandar seems to underline this view.
Made on an estimated budget of more than Rs. 250 crores, the film’s opening day collection was Rs 26 crores, according to box office data research firm Sacnilk. This is considerably lower than the trade circuit's estimate of Rs. 45-50 crores. Also, in the past eight years, Sikandar has been Salman Khan's sixth film which has failed to draw crowds to theatres.
"Salman Khan's stardom is under a cloud. This is because he has been unable to select scripts wisely," said veteran trade analyst Komal Nahta. "The story of Sikandar is ridiculous. It does not make sense that a hero is protecting three people who have received his dead wife's organs in donation," he added.
Writers and trade analysts said the actor is taking his stardom for granted and heavily relying more on his star power than scripts.
"After Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) and Sultan (2016), it is evident that none of the films that Salman starred in were written with conviction. Some of the fault lies with the producers too who seem to have taken it for granted that if they have Salman on board and an Eid release plan, then the audience will accept anything that comes their way," said scriptwriter Jaidev Hemmady. This approach is counter-productive, especially at a time when audiences are giving higher importance to stories than stars, he said.
Besides this, industry veterans are of the view that the genre of mass entertainer is not taken seriously in Hindi film industry. This is especially true in the case of Salman Khan's films post the release of Sultan (2016).
"Hindi filmmakers have reduced mass entertainers to mindless, boring or cringe-inducing stories. A great deal of creativity is required to make mass entertainers,” said veteran producer, who wished to be unnamed. “Consider writer duo Salim-Javed's films. Even though they were template stories, they looked fresh and they hardly compromised on entertaining value. In the past eight years, Salman Khan's mass entertainers conspicuously lack these elements and rely more on his stardom."
Overexposure of the actor through the Big Boss serial and events has affected the brand Salman Khan, said Girish Wankhede, a movie trade analyst. “Besides overexposure, Khan does not seem to prepare for his roles in mass entertainers. One does not see much difference in the way Salman Khan looks in the film Sikandar and outside the film," he said.
"Also, where is the story in Sikandar? Have the makers of Sikandar considered showing their film to people outside their circle and get their feedback? I seriously doubt it. If you don't take your business seriously, why would the audience take your film seriously?"
Since its trailer release, the word-of-mouth communications for Sikandar have been unfavourable, which impacted its first day collection. Trade analysts said on the Eid day, some theatres in Mumbai cancelled shows of the film and increased shows of the mid-budget ‘The Diplomat’.
A trade analyst, who requested anonymity said: "There is not a single full house show in theatres in Mumbai. In some theatres, there are 20-30 people in theatres. This shows that word-of-mouth communications of Sikandar have been unfavourable and rapid."
According to the data from Sacnilk, in the past three days, Sikandar has collected Rs. 74.5 crore across languages in India. Given the weak response, the trade circuit estimates that Sikandar’s collection will barely cross Rs. 150 crore in the coming days.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 876
11:13 PM
SIKANDAR FAILS AND HOW
The much-awaited film Sikandar has disappointed big time at the box office. The trailer and songs had not worked and as a result, an underwhelming number was always on the cards. But the way it trended led to a wave of disappointment and shock across the board.
The much-awaited film Sikandar has disappointed big time at the box office. The trailer and songs had not worked and as a result, an underwhelming number was always on the cards. But the way it trended led to a wave of disappointment and shock across the board.
Sikandar was released on Sunday, March 30. The hope was that the film would hit Rs. 30 crores on its day of release and then it'll go on to accumulate Rs. 40 crores + on its second day. Unfortunately, it opened at Rs. 25 crores. The number could have been higher but word of mouth spread like wild fire, impacting the numbers.
On Monday, the day of Eid, Sikandar had a marginal jump, earning Rs. 27 crores. On Bassi Eid, on Tuesday, the film fell to Rs. 18.50 crores. The holiday effect got over on Wednesday when it collected just Rs. 8.50 crores. The Thursday earnings are also expected to be dismal.
The five-day first-week earnings will be around Rs. 84-85 crores. There will be some jump in the coming weekend. But from Monday, April 7, it'll once again suffer a fall. Sikandar will manage to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark and that's about it.
There were hopes that it would collect Rs. 100 crores in three days and have a lifetime of Rs. 250 crores. Unfortunately, it might not even collect half of this amount by the end of its run.
The plus side is that Salman Khan's stardom is intact. The fact that this film will be able to cross the Rs. 100 crores mark is majorly because of the love that the audience has for him. For any other actor, it would have been next to impossible to bring in such a number with such poor content.
Sikandar is the tenth highest first weekend ever for Salman Khan
8:51 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
SIKANDAR was the tenth highest first weekend for Salman Khan at 70 crore nett plus when the target was to get to 100 crore nett over three days. The 100 crore target is also because the music or trailers did not generate much heat because if they did then there is no target as the sky is the limit.
The last release for Salman Khan had collected 138 crore nett on a similar weekend with a Sunday start and at that time this number was also looked at as if it was on the lower side which was not the case. The numbers were double of SIKANDAR; its another story that TIGER 3 was not appreciated but the initial was very good.
SIKANDAR has similar numbers to DABANGG 3 which was released in 2019 just before the pandemic and its numbers are actually not much higher than KISI KA BHAI KISI KI JAAN which did 58 crore nett. TIGER 3 was double its weekend numbers in terms of its lifetime business and that will be the case for SIKANDAR as well.
The top ten opening weekends for Salman Khan are as follows.
1. Tiger 3 - 1,38,56,00,000
2. Tiger Zinda Hai - 1,14,91,00,000
3. Sultan - 1,05,55,00,000
4. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 1,01,42,00,000
5. Race 3 - 1,00,64,00,000
6. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo - 97,63,00,000
7. Bharat - 90,47,00,000
8. Kick - 80,43,00,000
9. Dabangg 3 - 72,46,00,000
10. Sikandar - 70,50,00,000 apprx
11. Tubelight - 61,53,00,000
12. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan - 58,56,00,000
13. Dabangg 2 - 48,43,00,000
14. Jai Ho - 58,17,00,000
15. Ek Tha Tiger - 56,11,00,000
Salman Khan fans on intentional negativity around Sikandar: "Something like this has the power to wipe off a film"
8:44 AM
From circulation of old videos on X to posts about Sikandar’s shows being cancelled, Salman Khan’s fan clubs say negative advertising being used to bring the film down
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 3, 2025)
On Monday night, many accounts on X posted a video in which movie-goers, after apparently having watched Sikandar, are expressing their disappointment with the Salman Khan-starrer. Soon, it came to light that it was, in fact, an old video of viewers reacting to Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), but was being circulated on X as a reaction to Khan’s latest release. What’s worse, it was being run as an ad on the platform.
While Sikandar has opened to poor reviews and an underwhelming response, members of Khan’s fan clubs suspect that negative advertising is being used to influence the audience’s perception of the Eid release.
Ravi Desai, who runs the Salman Khan Fan Club, says that negativity around the A R Murugadoss-directed venture is being artificially inflated. “It remains to be seen whether this campaign is driven by someone in the industry, or just an aggressive push by rival fan groups. But something like this has the power to wipe off a film. It happened during Tubelight [2017]. You can’t combat these posts because there is most likely an agency hired and it is multiplying bots every hour. [Many posts] claimed that shows are cancelled, but if you check at Gaiety Galaxy, the shows are sold out,” he argues.
Rohit Sharma, who runs the fan club, Salman Army, points out how a boycott campaign had been run against Laal Singh Chaddha (2021). “We saw how online hate ensured that people stayed away from Aamir Khan’s film. Something similar is happening here. Why is an old video being sold as a reaction to Sikandar,” he questions, adding that those at the helm of it are setting a “dangerous precedent”.
“If an agency can be hired to run paid ads and amplify negative tweets about a film, it can be used against any actor or filmmaker in the future. It’s manipulation,” he says.
Salman Khan fans and Sikandar makers pull down over 3000 pirated links on release day
10:18 AM
With Sikandar leaked online before its release, Salman Khan’s fan clubs and the makers work with cyber police to pull down over 3000 links; piracy source unidentified
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 31, 2025)
The night before a movie’s release should be all about celebration for the makers and the team. But Sikandar’s leading man Salman Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala spent Saturday night and the early hours of March 30 scrambling to contain an online leak of their film. Hours before A R Murugadoss’ directorial venture hit the theatres on March 30 morning, the film’s high-definition (HD) version made its way to X. To combat the leak, Nadiadwala’s production house, Khan’s fan clubs and Mumbai Police’s cyber department worked together and pulled down over 3000 links.
Ravi Desai, who heads the Salman Khan Fan Club on X, reveals that a sign was there in the days leading up to the release. “On March 26, a handle had posted an unseen image from the film and claimed that they will release the film’s prints. Later, that account vanished. On Saturday at 11.30 pm, a print was released from another X handle. It was first available on HDM [a website for torrent downloads], and from there, it came to X. By 12 am, it was everywhere,” he recalls.
Desai and many other fans promptly alerted Salman Khan Films (SKF) at midnight about the development. In the next half-an-hour, SKF, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, and the anti-piracy agency, FX Securities, sprung into action. Desai says together, they worked with the Cyber Wing of Mumbai Police that combed X and Telegram to find the accounts.
“Within hours, we received thousands of reports from fans who helped us track down many accounts. Over 3000 links have been pulled down so far,” says Desai, adding, “We feel the leak happened at the post-production end.”
Piracy has become a rampant issue in the film industry, with many movies, including the recent L2 Empuraan and Game Changer, leaked online. It’s too early to deduce whether the box-office collection of Sikandar—that marks Khan’s return to the big screen over a year after Tiger 3 (2023) and also stars Rashmika Mandanna—has been adversely affected by the leak. Nadiadwala’s production house has reported over 1000 accounts to the authorities.
A source from the production team says, “Salman sir and Sajid sir have been in constant touch with the FX cyber security team, legal advisors, and social media platforms. The original source of the leak remains unidentified. The authorities are tracking the IP addresses linked to the pirated version’s dissemination. There will be consequences for those involved.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: SIKANDAR by FENIL SETA
2:29 PM
Sikandar begins with a bang. Salman Khan's entry scene is exhilarating and also it's not inserted for the heck of it. The sequence is a part of the story. Sadly, the film goes downhill from here and except for a few scenes, nothing really works. The plot is promising and moreover, talented director A R Murugadoss is at the helm. Hence, it's shocking that he failed to do justice to the story. He had everything going in his favour, including a debutant action director (Kevin Kumar) who has also done a fine job. But alas, things go wrong in the film and how. Certain cinematic liberties in the narrative will shock viewers. Moreover, Salman Khan doesn't seem in top form at all. Rashmika Mandanna is lovely but has limited screen time. Sharman Joshi (Amar), Kishore (Prakash; cop) and Jatin Sarna (De Niro) have longer screen times and they do well. Sathyaraj fails to entice; the villain track is weak. Prateik Smita Patil is over the top but it works for his character. Kajal Aggarwal and Anjini Dhawan are decent while Ayan Khan (Kamaruddin) is cute. All in all, Sikandar is an epic disappointment.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Salman Khan's Sikandar unlikely to surpass his highest opener Tiger 3, say trade analysts
10:49 AM
Even as Sikandar earns over Rs. 10 crore in advance booking, trade analysts skeptical of its Day-One figures surpassing Salman Khan’s biggest opener Tiger 3 at Rs 43 crore
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; March 29, 2025)
From the look of things, it will be a grand Eid for Salman Khan fans. The advance booking window for Sikandar opened on March 27, and earned over Rs 10 crore on the first day. Despite its strong advance booking figures, buzz in the trade is that Sikandar is unlikely to smash Khan’s highest opener, Tiger 3 (2023), which had raked in Rs 43 crore on its first day.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh notes, “There are lots of factors [going in Sikandar’s favour]—it’s an Eid release, it stars Salman, and A R 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.”
Like Sikandar, Tiger 3 was not only a festival release but also a Sunday offering. One could argue that the 2023 Diwali offering had the advantage of being part of the YRF Spy Universe. In contrast, Sikandar is a standalone action drama, which may not have the same multiplex appeal. But trade circles are confident that single-screen theatres, in cities as well as in tier-2 and -3 towns, will be the film’s stronghold.
Manoj Desai, executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy, states, “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.”
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