Sikandar Movie Review: Salman Khan’s Eid Spectacle—A Hit or a Miss?

Salman Khan is back with another big Eid release, Sikandar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. With massive hype surrounding it, the film promised an action-packed experience with a strong emotional core. But does it actually deliver, or is it just another formulaic Salman Khan film that plays it safe? Let’s break it all down.

Star Cast and Budget

Salman Khan leads the film, playing a character that embodies strength, justice, and resilience—basically, the roles he has been doing for the past decade. Rashmika Mandanna plays the female lead, marking her first collaboration with Salman, and while she brings freshness, her role doesn’t get enough depth.

The supporting cast includes Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, and Prateik Babbar, but most of them don’t get much to do. Sathyaraj stands out with a solid performance, but others are wasted in underwritten roles.

With a massive ₹180 crore production budget and ₹20 crore for promotions, the total investment in the film was close to ₹200 crore. However, the producers played it smart by selling the film’s digital, satellite, and music rights early, covering more than 80% of the cost before the film even hit theaters.

Box Office Performance

The film opened to ₹30 crore on its first day, which is good but not groundbreaking, especially for a Salman Khan Eid release. For comparison, his previous Eid hits like Bharat (₹42.30 crore) and Sultan (₹36.54 crore) had much bigger openings.

The film had a 5,500+ screen release in India, but advance bookings were not as strong as expected. The box office trajectory will depend on word of mouth, but the opening figures suggest that the audience is not blindly rushing to see Salman Khan films anymore.

Non-Theatrical Revenue and Pre-Release Business

The makers had already recovered a significant chunk of their investment before release:

• Netflix bought the digital rights for ₹85 crore (possibly increasing to ₹100 crore if the film performs well).

• Satellite rights were sold for ₹50 crore.

• Music rights fetched ₹30 crore.

This means that even if the film underperforms theatrically, the producers won’t lose money.

Storyline (Spoiler-Free)

The film follows the journey of a man who is forced to take on a powerful system when his world is turned upside down. It’s an action-packed tale of revenge, justice, and redemption. There are intense action sequences, emotional moments, and a bit of humor thrown in.

The problem? The film doesn’t offer anything new. If you’ve seen Jai Ho, Sultan, Tiger Zinda Hai, or Bajrangi Bhaijaan, you’ll feel like you’ve seen elements of Sikandar before. It sticks to the same formula—a larger-than-life hero, a noble cause, a personal tragedy, and a redemption arc. The execution is decent, but there are no surprises.

What Works in Sikandar?

• Salman Khan’s Screen Presence: As always, he delivers what his fans expect—swag, action, and larger-than-life moments.

• Action Sequences: The stunt choreography is solid, with some well-shot fight scenes that will keep action lovers entertained.

• Background Score and Music: The film’s soundtrack, especially “Zohra Jabeen,” adds emotional depth. The background music builds tension effectively.

• A Few Emotional Moments: There are some genuinely touching moments, particularly in the first half.

Where Sikandar Falls Short

• Predictable Storyline: The plot follows the usual underdog-to-unstoppable-hero formula. If you’ve seen Salman Khan’s last few action films, you already know what’s coming next.

• Underdeveloped Supporting Characters: Rashmika Mandanna is underutilized, and the supporting cast doesn’t get much screen time.

• Pacing Issues: The second half drags in places. The film could have easily been 20 minutes shorter without losing any impact.

• Weak Villain: A powerful hero needs a strong villain, but the antagonist here lacks depth and menace. He is just another typical Bollywood bad guy with no real presence.

• Unrealistic Action Sequences: While the action scenes are entertaining, some of them cross into the absurd. At times, it feels like the laws of physics simply don’t apply to Salman’s character.

• Forced Comedy: Some of the humor feels out of place and disrupts the film’s tone.

Plot Holes and Issues (Without Spoilers)

There are moments in the film that make you question logic. Some characters make decisions that don’t make sense, and certain plot twists feel forced. There are also instances where problems get solved too conveniently, without any real struggle. The screenplay takes shortcuts, and that weakens the emotional impact.

Final Verdict: Should You Watch Sikandar?

If you’re a hardcore Salman Khan fan, then yes—you’ll enjoy the larger-than-life action, dramatic moments, and his signature style. The film delivers what you expect from a Salman Khan entertainer.

But if you’re looking for something fresh, Sikandar doesn’t offer anything new. The story is predictable, the villain is weak, and the pacing issues make it feel longer than it should.

Overall, Sikandar is an average action drama that works for fans but doesn’t push any boundaries. It has its moments, but it’s not among Salman’s best films.

What Did You Think of Sikandar?

Did you enjoy it, or did you feel it was just another formulaic Bollywood film? Share your thoughts!

For more reviews and Bollywood updates, like, share, and follow!