An Insult to Salman Khan: Sikandar faces mass cancellations

Salman Khan, once regarded as Bollywood’s unshakable box-office titan, is experiencing a significant blow to his superstar status. His latest Eid release, Sikandar, has suffered widespread cancellations across India due to dismal ticket sales and poor audience turnout, raising concerns about his fading dominance.

Directed by AR Murugadoss and released on March 30, 2025, Sikandar was expected to be a triumphant return for Khan in his signature Eid slot. However, the film’s lackluster performance has ignited discussions about whether his appeal is waning in an evolving industry.

Theaters replace Sikandar with other movies

Several theater owners in key cities such as Surat, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Bhopal have reported canceling multiple screenings of Sikandar as early as its second day. In its place, they have opted for alternatives like Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan, John Abraham’s The Diplomat, and regional Gujarati films such as All The Best Pandya and Umbarro.

Box Office disappointment

Sikandar opened to a modest Rs 26 crore on its first day—far below trade expectations of Rs 40–50 crore, given Khan’s historical Eid dominance. Despite a minor boost from the Eid holiday, collections quickly plummeted, with occupancy rates dipping into single digits in many regions by Day 2.

An outlier to this trend has been Mumbai’s iconic Gaiety-Galaxy multiplex, where packed houses have led to additional showings. This suggests Khan still commands loyalty in certain pockets, though the broader rejection nationwide remains a troubling indicator.

Industry experts react

Trade analyst Amod Mehra called the cancellations “a slap in the face to Salman Khan’s stardom,” stating, “This is unprecedented for a Salman film on Eid. Even his weaker films, like Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, didn’t face this level of humiliation. The cancellations indicate that Khan’s core audience, the masses, is losing interest.”

His sentiments have been echoed across social media, where both fans and critics have labeled the situation a “massive insult” to Khan’s legacy. Many have blamed the film’s failure on an outdated formula, lackluster marketing, and a lack of fresh appeal.

Marketed as a high-octane action spectacle, Sikandar featured Khan alongside Rashmika Mandanna and was produced by Sajid Nadiadwala with a reported budget of Rs 250 crore. However, its underwhelming response has been attributed to mixed reviews criticizing a predictable plot, weak entertainment value, and an early online leak.

Salman Khan’s golden era

The disastrous performance of Sikandar starkly contrasts Khan’s golden years, where films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan made Eid synonymous with his box-office dominance. As newer talents and content-driven narratives take center stage, the industry now questions whether the 59-year-old star can reclaim his throne.

With Sikandar struggling to stay afloat, its weekend collections are now seen as its last hope. However, the widespread cancellations serve as a glaring reminder that even Bollywood’s biggest stars are not immune to changing audience preferences. Whether Khan can bounce back remains to be seen, but Sikandar’s failure signals an undeniable shift in Bollywood’s box-office dynamics.