What went wrong with Salman Khan Sikandar movie?

Salman Khan’s much-anticipated return to the silver screen, Sikandar, was expected to set the box office on fire after Chhaava. Instead, the film has fizzled out, struggling to meet expectations despite its Eid release and mass appeal.

Disappointing Numbers Despite the Hype

Produced by Salman Khan Films and Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Sikandar managed to rake in ₹86.5 crore (net) in India over six days—a decent figure, but far below what was projected for a Salman Khan-led action spectacle. Even the Eid holiday couldn’t give it the expected boost, with Saturday’s collections remaining flat at around ₹4 crore (as per early estimates). The film now hopes to crawl past the ₹100 crore mark in its second week, but the momentum seems lost.

Star Power vs. Weak Storytelling

On paper, Sikandar had everything going for it:

• Salman Khan’s first solo lead role since Tiger 3 (2023)
• Rashmika Mandanna as his on-screen wife
• Sathyaraj (Baahubali fame) as the antagonist
• AR Murugadoss (Ghajini) wielding the megaphone

Yet, audiences walked out complaining about the lackluster script, choppy editing, and underdeveloped villains.

Where Did the Film Go Wrong?

1. No Real Villain, No Real Stakes
   • Sathyaraj’s antagonist feels more like a cameo than a formidable foe.
   • Other villains pop in and out without leaving an impact, making the conflict feel weightless.
2. A Messy, Confusing Narrative
   • The film starts strong with a gripping airplane action sequence but quickly descends into chaos.
   • Scenes jump abruptly, leaving viewers puzzled about character motivations and plot progression.
3. Wasted Talent
   • Rashmika Mandanna barely has any screen time or relevance to the story.
   • Kajal Aggarwal, Prateik Babbar, and Sharman Joshi are sidelined in forgettable roles.
4. Salman’s Slow-Mo Dialogue Delivery
   • While his action scenes work, his slow-motion, drawn-out dialogues feel unnatural and drag the pace.

Director AR Murugadoss Under Fire

Murugadoss, known for tight scripts like Ghajini and Holiday, surprisingly falters here. The editing is jarring, and the screenplay lacks coherence—something unexpected from a filmmaker of his caliber.

Will Sikandar Recover?

With negative word-of-mouth spreading, the film’s chances of a miraculous turnaround look slim. For Salman Khan fans, this is a rare miss after blockbusters like Tiger 3 and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.