Sikandar is an action drama released in 2025, directed by renowned director AR Murugadoss. A mastermind behind blockbuster films such as Ghajini and Holiday, Murugadoss teamed up with Bollywood sensation Salman Khan on this multi-crore film. Directed by Sajid Nadiadwala, Sikandar boasted a star cast of Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sharman Joshi. Despite having a ₹200 crore budget and a lot of hype surrounding it, the film flopped at the box office by collecting just ₹176 crore.

The Fallout Between Salman Khan and AR Murugadoss

In the aftermath of the film’s lackluster reception, tensions emerged between Salman Khan and AR Murugadoss. On a Bigg Boss 19 Weekend Ka Vaar episode, Salman spoke about the film being criticized. He accepted that the film was rejected by people but excused its narrative as “unique.”.

Murugadoss, though, had earlier commented on Salman’s late on-time entrances on the sets and implied that production delays were the reason for the film’s failure. Salman retorted sharply, saying, “Meri pasaliyan tooti thi,” where the reference is to his physical hurt during the shoot.

Sikandar’s Plot and Production Highlights

The narrative of Sikandar is about justice, redemption, and personal change. AR Murugadoss, also the story writer, collaborated with screenwriters Sajid Nadiadwala and Rajat Arora, Hussain Dalal, and Abbas Dalal in writing the dialogue. The music was by Pritam, background score by Santhosh Narayanan. Cinematography was by Tirru, editing by Vivek Harshan.

Audience Reaction and Critical Reception

Despite having all the ingredients of a box office hit, including stunts, emotional connect, and star appeal, Sikandar failed to click with the audience. The critics blamed the film for lacking coherence in the script and let-downs in the characters. Salman’s fans adored his performance, but others felt that the film fell short of expectations.

AR Murugadoss’s Reputation and Future Projects

AR Murugadoss has established himself as one who marries social themes with mass entertainment. Although the failure of Sikandar shook his image, he continues to be a highly regarded person in Indian cinema. His talent for creating good stories and directing high-octane action still draws producers and actors.