Entertainment
“Below Average” – Taran Adarsh Pans Sikandar, Ranks Salman’s Top 5 Hits
Salman Khan’s Eid 2025 release Sikandar took a hit from trade analyst Taran Adarsh, who slapped it with a “below average” tag and left it off his list of the superstar’s top five career smashes. The action flick, which pulled in ₹30.06 crore on day one, has tongues wagging about whether Bollywood’s Bhai is losing his box office grip.
Taran Adarsh’s Salman Khan Top 5
- 1. Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015): ₹969 crore lifetime—Salman’s emotional peak.
- 2. Sultan (2016): ₹623 crore—a wrestling juggernaut.
- 3. Tiger Zinda Hai (2017): ₹565 crore—spy thriller gold.
- 4. Dabangg (2010): ₹278 crore—cop swagger that started it all.
- 5. Kick (2014): ₹377 crore—high-octane heist vibes.
Where Sikandar Stands
- Day 1: ₹30.06 crore—solid, but dwarfed by Sultan’s ₹36.54 crore opener.
- Critics: Averaging 2-2.5 stars—Rediff calls it “stale formula,” Adarsh gives it 2 stars, says it’s “among Salman’s weakest.”
- Fan Buzz: #WeWantSalmanBack is trending—loyalists clash with doubters online.
Why Sikandar’s Stumbling
3 Critical Factors
- Script Burnout
- Sixth “lone hero” gig since 2017—Tiger, Radhe, now this.
- Adarsh gripes: “Fans miss the heart Salman brought in the 2010s.”
- Eid Squeeze
- Screens split with Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan—Malayalam muscle stole some thunder.
- Digital Fallout
- Piracy stung—leaked online hours before release; plus, Radhe’s ZEE5 flop lingers in memory.
Salman’s Career at a Crossroads?
The Alarming Trend
- Radhe (2021): Disaster—lost 40% of its budget.
- Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023): Flop—down 25% on investment.
- Sikandar (2025): Below average—ROI still shaky, early signs point south.
Fanbase Split
- Team Bhai: “He’s 58—let him smash it up while he can,” says @BhaiArmy on X.
- Naysayers: “Where’s the Prem magic of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam?” asks critic Rajeev Masand.
What’s Next for Bhai?
- Tiger vs Pathaan: 2025 shoot with Shah Rukh Khan—could flip the script.
- Production Pivot: Whispers of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali reunion—back to romance?
- OTT Shift: Amazon’s circling—non-action roles might be his next play.
