'Sikandar': International advance bookings open for Salman Khan's film
What's the story
The anticipation around Salman Khan's upcoming film Sikandar is reaching a fever pitch with its release date approaching. Directed by acclaimed Tamil Nadu filmmaker AR Murugadoss—who has given Bollywood hits like Ghajini and Holiday—the movie is going to be an Eid treat for fans across the globe. The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna, who has been on a successful run in pan-Indian cinema with Animal, Pushpa 2, and Chhaava.
Release speculation
'Sikandar' is set for a Sunday release, not Friday
Unlike the traditional Friday releases, Sikandar is rumored to release on Sunday, March 30. Initially, this speculation was dismissed as a placeholder on overseas booking websites but has gained credibility with limited advance bookings starting. The date mentioned for these bookings is indeed March 30 and several theaters have started allocating slots for the film, further solidifying this release date.
Box office expectations
'Sikandar' aims to surpass 'Tiger 3's box office performance
The box office expectations from Sikandar are high, especially since Khan's last film, Tiger 3, underperformed. Despite its Sunday release, Tiger 3 raked in over ₹41 crore nett at the Indian box office on Day 1 and crossed ₹140 crore within the first week. Those numbers set a benchmark Sikandar is expected to break this Eid season.
Director's comeback
'Sikandar' is Murugadoss's return to Bollywood after a hiatus
Sikandar also marks director Murugadoss's return to Bollywood after a long time. The film will surely benefit from his one-of-a-kind fan following and the success of the spy universe set up in Tiger 3. With Khan in a key role and an unconventional Eid release slot, hopes are high for this film. Further, with little competition, Sikandar is expected to have strong pre-sales.