Directed by acclaimed filmmaker AR Murugadoss on a budget of Rs 200 crore, Sikandar earned Rs 175 crore globally.

Salman Khan’s Eid release Sikandar has reportedly suffered a major blow at the box office, with producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s banner claiming losses of Rs 91 crore due to widespread piracy. The production house is now preparing to file an insurance claim for the same, according to a report by Bollywood Hungama. 

Despite being mounted on a staggering budget of Rs 200 crore and directed by acclaimed filmmaker AR Murugadoss, Sikandar failed to meet box office expectations, grossing only Rs 175 crore globally. The film, co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, marked Khan’s first collaboration with the Ghajini director and was heavily promoted in the weeks leading up to its release. 

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Within hours of its theatrical release, the film’s pirated version was leaked online, with some copies even appearing before the official premiere. The pirated copies were reportedly distributed via encrypted messaging platforms and unauthorised streaming websites.

What’s more, the leaked versions allegedly contained raw background scores and scenes that never made it to the theatrical cut. These included an extended flashback involving a character named Kamaruddin, a scene where Sikandar meets medical students in Dharavi, and a sequence exploring Rashmika’s character’s ambition to become a lawyer. 

The piracy impact was so severe that an internal audit was conducted to assess losses, following which the production team, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (NGEPL), decided to pursue a substantial insurance claim. The underperformance continued even after the film was released on Netflix, where it was met with mixed to negative responses. 

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The audit, carried out by Ernst & Young, estimated the losses at approximately Rs 91 crores. The figure was derived through a combination of comparative modeling and market benchmarking, which included analysing pre-release box office projections and occupancy trends in theatres. According to reports, it also involved a thorough examination of data from ticketing platforms and distributor reports, ultimately converting the piracy figures into estimated revenue losses.

If NGEPL proceeds with the insurance claim, it could mark one of the largest piracy-related claims in the history of Indian cinema