- Tuesday, April 22, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Director AR Murugadoss’ much-anticipated Bollywood return with Sikandar, starring Salman Khan, seems to have fallen flat at the box office. The film, which marked his comeback 17 years after Ghajini and 11 years after Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty, has received poor reviews from audiences and critics alike. Despite high expectations, Sikandar appears to lack the emotional depth and gripping storytelling that defined Murugadoss’ previous hits.
Early reviews suggest that Sikandar has struggled to leave an impact. Videos circulating online show empty theatres, and reports claim that some fans have even been giving away tickets for free. Additionally, Salman Khan’s PR team has been accused of aggressively promoting positive reviews to salvage the film’s reputation. However, the audience response paints a different picture, with many criticizing the weak screenplay, underwhelming performances, and lackluster direction.
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Murugadoss is known for delivering successful films like Thuppakki, Sarkar, Kaththi, and Darbar. His Bollywood debut, Ghajini, was a game-changer, becoming the first ₹100 crore grosser in India and setting new benchmarks for action thrillers. His next Hindi venture, Holiday, starring Akshay Kumar, was also a hit. Given this strong track record, Sikandar’s underperformance is a major setback for the filmmaker.
According to industry sources, Murugadoss has maintained an impressive 84.6 per cent success rate at the box office, with an IMDb average of 8 across his 13 films. Nearly half of his movies have achieved blockbuster status, while only 15 per cent have been considered flops. Unfortunately, Sikandar might now be added to that short list of disappointments, despite its commercial potential.
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Salman Khan, who has been a box office magnet for decades, is facing criticism for his performance in Sikandar. Many viewers have called it uninspired, lacking the charisma that made him a superstar. While his loyal fan base may still push the film’s initial earnings, its long-term success remains uncertain. The film’s technical aspects, direction, and overall execution have also been slammed, with fans calling it one of Salman’s weakest projects in recent years.
Despite the backlash, Sikandar might still generate decent box office numbers due to Salman’s star power. However, the film’s longevity is in doubt. Unlike Murugadoss’ previous Bollywood films, which had strong narratives and emotional depth, Sikandar seems to lack a compelling storyline, making it difficult for audiences to connect with.
With Murugadoss’ reputation on the line and Salman facing criticism, Sikandar may go down as a forgettable chapter in both their careers. Whether the film manages to recover in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as a rare Bollywood misstep for the director who once set box office records.
