Salman Khan, one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, has had an illustrious career spanning over three decades. However, an uncanny pattern seems to follow him—his association with the number 3 and the name Sikandar has not yielded the kind of success one would expect from a megastar of his stature. While superstition and coincidences often find a place in Bollywood lore, Salman’s track record with these elements raises questions about whether they are merely coincidences or an ominous trend.
Race 3: A Franchise Letdown
The first major instance of Salman Khan’s tryst with the number 3 and the name Sikandar occurred in 2018 when he joined the hit Race franchise for its third installment. The first two films in the Race series were helmed by Abbas-Mustan and had found a cult following for their stylish action, thrilling storylines, and stellar performances by Saif Ali Khan.
However, when Salman stepped in to headline Race 3, it was met with high expectations. The film was released as a grand Eid spectacle, but despite opening to impressive numbers, it was panned by critics and audiences alike. The story lacked the sharpness of its predecessors, the dialogues became meme material, and the film turned into a massive disappointment. To make matters worse, Salman’s character in the film was named Sikandar—an identity that, in hindsight, didn’t seem to work in his favor. The failure of Race 3 marked the beginning of a pattern that would repeat in the years to come.
Tiger 3: A Success That Felt Like a Setback
Fast forward to 2023, Salman Khan reprised his iconic role as Tiger in Tiger 3, the third installment in YRF’s Spy Universe. The film opened to record-breaking numbers, marking the biggest opening for any Salman Khan film. However, in the larger scheme of things, Tiger 3 underperformed with Rs 282 crore collection when compared to its predecessor, Pathaan (2023), which had taken the box office by storm, collecting over Rs 500 crore in India alone.
Also Tiger 3 was released in Sunday which was also a Diwali day, there was never a precedent for that before in Bollywood. Despite that the film eanred over Rs 45 crore on day 1 and on day 2 the collection jumped to nearly Rs 60 crore mark.On Tuesday the film again collected around Rs 44 crore but since then on the film’s collection kept on dropping with each passing day. While it wasn’t a flop, the underperformance of Tiger 3 added to the perception that the third installment of a franchise—and now, a Sunday release—may not be the best formula for Salman Khan’s success. And the performance of the film has also put a question on the further installments in YRF Spy Universe.
Sikandar (2024): A Difficult Outing
In 2024, Salman Khan once again found himself at the center of an underwhelming box office outing with Sikandar. The film, which was expected to be an Eid blockbuster, faced numerous setbacks. Firstly, piracy plagued the film before its theatrical release, significantly impacting its earnings. Secondly, the film was unable to connect with Salman’s core fan base as well as general audiences, leading to disappointing box office numbers.
Another crucial misstep was the choice of releasing Sikandar on a Sunday—an eerie repetition of the mistake made with Tiger 3. Eid releases are traditionally scheduled on Fridays to maximize weekend collections, but Sikandar followed a different path, and the results were far from desirable.
Adding to the intrigue is the name Sikandar. While the name historically signifies a victorious warrior (a reference to Alexander the Great), Salman’s association with it has not brought him the same fortune. This marks the second time he has played a character named Sikandar, and both instances have resulted in box office disappointments. The film in its three day run at box office has been able to earn only Rs 74.5 crore despite the Eid holiday.
Coincidence or a Pattern?
Looking at these three instances, it’s hard to ignore the eerie connection between Salman Khan, the number 3, and the name Sikandar. Race 3, Tiger 3, and Sikandar have all fallen short of expectations in one way or another. While Tiger 3 performed better than the other two, it still felt like a setback given the expectations set by Pathaan.
For a superstar like Salman, who has consistently delivered Eid blockbusters and record-breaking openings, these underwhelming outcomes indicate that certain patterns may not be working in his favor. Whether it’s the third installment of a franchise, a character named Sikandar, or a Sunday release, these elements seem to have coincided with setbacks in his career.
Next for Salman?
Salman is all set to team up with his buddy and brother Sanjay Dutt for a rural action film and he is also supposed to work with Sooraj Barjatiya once he completes his film with Ayushmann Khurrana.