Bollywood superstar Salman Khan‘s latest release, Sikandar, hit theaters on Eid 2025, but it’s facing fierce competition from the Malayalam action thriller, L2: Empuraan, starring Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Released on March 27, 2025, L2: Empuraan continues to draw audiences despite mixed reviews, maintaining strong advance bookings compared to Sikandar’s more modest pre-sales of 10.01 crores gross.
L2: Empuraan’s advance booking sales were remarkable, with day 4 figures reaching 10.37 crore gross. Although there’s a slight dip from Saturday’s pre-sales of 10.68 crore gross, Kerala, a stronghold for the film, sees ongoing enthusiasm. Kerala alone contributes 7.64 crores of ticket sales, while areas like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra show significant interest, marking impressive numbers for Mohanlal’s film.
For Salman Khan, Eid traditionally marks a major release period, known for drawing large audiences. However, Sikandar’s pre-sales performance appeared subdued, overshadowed by the early momentum gained by L2: Empuraan. Despite this, Khan’s enduring fan base might still influence the film’s box office trajectory post-release with spot bookings potentially changing the game’s dynamics.
L2: Empuraan’s initial box office success is substantial, collecting 32.75 crores in its first two days in India, and now it holds the title of highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2025 domestically. On a global scale, the film boasts a total of 103.48 crore gross, indicating its widespread appeal.
As both films continue their box office journeys, the spotlight remains on whether Salman Khan’s Sikandar can capitalize on its star power to boost its post-release earnings and possibly surpass its competition. The dynamic between these two films during this festive period showcases contrasting trends in regional and nationwide film popularity, while the strong pre-sales of L2: Empuraan reflect a shift in audiences’ cinematic preferences. Moving forward, both films will be closely watched for their performance and potential future earnings.
