The word around Salman Khan’s long-awaited film Sikandar is building up stronger by the day with the approaching release date. Starring under the direction of critically acclaimed director A.R. Murugadoss, the film is poised to be an Eid treat for all Salman Khan fans. Murugadoss, with his hits from Bollywood in films like Ghajini (featuring Aamir Khan) and Holiday (starring Akshay Kumar), will return with another action movie. To add more zing, Rashmika Mandanna is onboard as the female lead. The actress who has been flying high on Animal success and now ready to gear up for Pushpa 2 and Chhaava is the industry’s go-to name currently.

Speculated Release Date and Unconventional Timing

Gossip is ripe that Sikandar will come out on March 30 by adopting an unexpected Sunday release strategy in place of a traditional Friday opening. The choice does seem to be dictated by the pre-Eid factor, a ploy on the lines of Tiger 3. Fans initially thought the March 30 date mentioned on international booking portals was a placeholder, but with advance bookings for limited shows now available, it appears a done deal. Several theatres have also started allotting slots for the movie, further intensifying the Sunday release rumor.

Box Office Expectations

The bar is set very high for Sikandar, given that Salman Khan’s last release, Tiger 3, was a box office disappointment. Even though it opened well with ₹41 crore nett on the first day, Tiger 3 was unable to maintain its pace. With Sikandar, the aim is to beat those figures, especially during the critical Eid holiday period. The lack of tough competition also adds to its chances, with good pre-sales and a big box office opening.

A.R. Murugadoss’ Comeback to Bollywood

Another area of interest is director A.R. Murugadoss’ comeback to Bollywood after a long hiatus. With his track record of making high-octane thrillers, there are high hopes that Sikandar will have a thrilling plot coupled with Salman Khan’s star appeal. Since Eid is a key period for Bollywood blockbusters, the special release strategy and Khan’s massive fan base can prove to be a magic potion for the movie.

Waiting for the Official Word

Everyone is waiting with bated breath for the official word on the release date and the roll-out of full-scale advance booking. With the excitement mounting, Sikandar is turning out to be one of the largest releases of the year. Everyone is waiting for Salman Khan to get back on the saddle and is hoping for the film’s success to mark another feather in his cap-laden career.