So it is clear that Salman Khan’s Sikandar has bombed at the box-office. Forget the bad press the star has been getting in the last six days, forget how anybody and everybody, who has social media presence, is spewing venom against the Khan since March 30, the day his Sikandar hit the screens! Let’s just concentrate on hard facts and figures.
‘SIKANDAR’: BARE FACTS
Sikandar should’ve collected at least Rs. 175 crore in the first 5-day week but instead, it netted only Rs. 80 crore. The film should’ve been poised for a lifetime net total of at least Rs. 300 crore to break even, but it might breathe its last at just a little over Rs. 100 crore! If these box-office figures don’t send shivers down the spines of those who love Bollywood, nothing else can! Accusing Salman of sleepwalking through the film or showing complete lack of interest hardly matters. What actually matters today about Sikandar, more than anything else, is the fact that it will bring untold misery to exhibitors across the nation.
NORTH DARLING IN SOUTH FILM
If Sikandar is the past, Sunny Deol’s Jaat is the future which the trade is looking at with a lot of hope and expectations. One has not seen Jaat to predict its box-office fate. But there are several factors which go hugely in favour of the film. It will release on April 10 — almost a year-and-a-half after Gadar 2 which was not just the biggest blockbuster of Sunny Deol’s career but also one of Hindi cinema’s biggest grossers ever! Obviously, expectations of the public from the film are high, more so because the film’s teaser and trailer have been liked/loved and also because it is an action film, like Gadar 2 was. Sunny is a force to reckon with once again after the stupendous success of Gadar 2, and his fan following in Northern India, in particular, got a shot in the arm after the Gadar Ek Prem Katha sequel hit bull’s eye. In Jaat, it is the first time that Sunny is collaborating with a South banner and South director. The pan-India success of South films post-COVID 19 has proved that South content is being accepted wholeheartedly by the audience in North India too. Hence the excitement to watch Sunny join forces with the South industry is not just remarkable but also novel. Besides, the title value is tremendous because both, the film’s hero (Sunny Deol) and villain (Randeep Hooda), belong to the Jaat community in real life.
‘JAAT’ PLUS POINTS
Jaat couldn’t have had a better release date than April 10. Mahavir Jayanti, which falls on April 10, is a big holiday, especially in North India. Besides that, Baisakhi, another festive occasion, falls on April 13, and Ambedkar Jayanti, on April 14. Although April 13 is a Sunday, the festival will give box-office collections a boost for sure. The Ambedkar Jayanti holiday is similarly expected to aid the box-office of Jaat. Another factor that goes in favour of the film is the title. Masses, in particular, are pretty gung ho about the title. What’s more, it would be interesting to watch Sunny do South-style stunts and action this time. Gopichand Malineni, who has directed Jaat, is known for his action films with a pronounced dash of strong emotions. Whether it is Sunny Deol’s Ghayal, Ghatak, Gadar Ek Prem Katha or Gadar 2, Sunny has come out with flying colours whenever his films have had a mix of breathtaking action and tear-jerking emotions. Going by the past track record of the film’s director, Jaat just might prove to be a box-office winner on that count too.
The miserable failure of Sikandar might also indirectly help the business of Jaat because the public is that much more hungry for entertaining content.
Little wonder then that the excitement for April 10 is growing with each passing day — not just among the trade people but also among the public!