Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's much-awaited action-drama Sikandar (2025), directed by AR Murugadoss, released on the big screens with high expectations. Launched during the Eid festival, with high budget and much hype prior to release, the movie was predicted to be a blockbuster. But even with all the hype, Sikandar failed to make any positive impression on the audience and critics, and its box office collection was weak.
What went wrong? Let us examine the principal causes of Sikandar's unexpected defeat.
1. Weak and Predictable Storyline
Sikandar pursues a man who avenges his late wife and fights an unfair system. Although this revenge tale was promising, audience members felt that it was too cliche and predictable.
The script was stale, and the critics felt that it was the same old story from Salman's past films. Contrary to Holiday or Ghajini, which had emotions, Sikandar failed to make a real impact.
2. Ineffective Direction & Implementation
Despite AR Murugadoss, who is renowned for hit films such as Ghajini and Holiday, being at the helm, Sikandar had weak execution. The film had:
- Pacing problems – The first half was slow and dragged.
- Inconsistent narration – The storytelling was not appropriate.
- Overdramatic moments – Emotions that seemed unnatural and did not resonate with the audience.
Even Murugadoss' signature style of creating action-thriller films seemed to be absent in this movie, disappointing his
3. Weak Performances & Lack of Chemistry
Salman Khan is always on screen, but his Sikandar lacked sparkle and his performance was dull. His detractors opined that he looked bored playing the role.
- Rashmika Mandanna received less screen time and left the fans disappointed.
- Suniel Shetty and Sharman Joshi had small parts that were not well written.
- The chemistry between Salman and Rashmika was not great, which took away from the emotional depth of the movie.
4. Negative Word-of-Mouth & Bad Reviews
Since the very first day, Sikandar faced mostly negative criticisms, and consequently, few viewers came to watch it in subsequent days.
- Social networking websites such as Twitter and Reddit were filled with negative remarks.
- Critics faulted the script, its making, and its action sequences.
- Even Salman's biggest fans could not defend the film, and this made it hard for the film to bounce back.
Due to the negative reviews, the box office collections dropped very rapidly after the opening weekend.
5. Dated Action & Over-the-Top Sequences
Even though advertised as an action-filled film, Sikandar's action and stunt numbers fell short.
- Repeating action sequences did not inspire.
- Exaggerated stunts were not realistic and innovative.
- Predictable battle scenes cannot generate thrills.
The audiences of the present need convincing and realistic action, such as in Pathaan, Jawan, or War. But that was not presented by Sikandar.
6. Intense Competition & OTT Distraction
There were also other movies competing with Sikandar. As streaming networks provided decent movies, many would choose not to watch the film on the cinema screen and just wait for its online release.
The audience today is more discerning, looking for good content and not for fame. Sadly, Sikandar had little to attract them.
7. High Budget, Low Box Office Returns
Sikandar had a budget of ₹250 crore. To be successful, it had to reach ₹400 crore globally. But because of:
- Negative comments
- Word-of-mouth, negative
- Low audience interest.
The film did not cover expenses, leading to massive losses for distributors and manufacturers.
Final Opinion : A Box Office Disaster
Though they had a superstar, a reputed director, and an Eid release, Sikandar flopped due to a weak script, an old-fashioned story, and a weak implementation.
Even Salman Khan's popularity could not prevent this movie from being one of the biggest disappointments of 2025.
⭐ Rating: 1.5/5 ⭐
Did you see Sikandar?
What do you think? Do you agree with the reviews, or did you enjoy the movie? Let us know in the comments below!
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