Let’s cut to the chase: Sikandar, Salman Khan’s hyped Eid release, isn’t just a misfire—it’s a full-blown cinematic meltdown. The film, which promised to be a high-octane action spectacle, instead feels like a tired rerun of every Salman trope we’ve suffered through since 2010. And trust me, that’s not a compliment.
The Plot? More Like a Patchwork of Clichés
The movie kicks off with Sanjay “Sikandar” Rajkot (Khan), a modern-day royal with a hero complex, beating up a politician’s son mid-flight for harassing a woman. Cue the slow-mo punches and heroic bgm. From there, we’re dragged through a nonsensical plot involving a royal militia that never gets used, a terrorist attack subplot that goes nowhere, and a wife (Rashmika Mandanna) whose sole purpose is to die tragically. (Spoiler? Not really—Murugadoss’ Ghajini playbook is glaringly obvious here.)
By the time Sikandar starts tracking down his wife’s organ recipients in Mumbai—because, sure, that’s a normal grieving process—the film morphs into a cringe parade of Salman’s “bhai doing good” schtick. Think: awkward gym scenes, teary-eyed slum kids, and a papadum business montage. It’s less Bajrangi Bhaijaan and more Let’s Remind Everyone Why We Loved Him in the 90s.
Salman Khan: Going Through the Motions (Literally)
Let’s be honest: Salman isn’t acting anymore. He’s sleepwalking. His performance here isn’t just lazy—it’s aggressively disinterested. Fight scenes? Half-hearted swats. Emotional moments? A vacant stare that screams, “When’s lunch?” Even his die-hard fans, who showed up chanting “Bhai! Bhai!”, left the theater quieter than a library. The film’s saddest moment? When Salman tearfully croons Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh—a song that unintentionally mirrors his career: “Where does it begin, where does it end?”
Murugadoss’ Misstep: A Director Out of Steam
Director A.R. Murugadoss, once the genius behind Ghajini, seems to have lost his mojo. The writing is clunky, the dialogues sound like Google Translate outputs, and the pacing? A snail’s marathon. Even Rashmika Mandanna, Bollywood’s current “good luck charm,” is reduced to a plot device with a ghostly voiceover. Her character’s fate is sealed the second she says, “I have a secret to tell you.” (Spoiler: She dies. Shocker.)
Box Office Blues and a Leak Disaster
Despite the Eid hype, Sikandar opened to a lukewarm ₹26 crore—way below expectations. To add salt to the wound, it couldn’t even beat Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava (₹31 crore) or Salman’s own Tiger Zinda Hai (₹33 crore). The real kicker? The film leaked online hours before release, with HD prints flooding piracy sites. Trade analyst Komal Nahta called it a “producer’s worst nightmare,” and rightly so. Sajid Nadiadwala’s team scrambled to pull it off 600 sites, but the damage was done.
Verdict: Time to Retire the ‘Bhai’ Playbook?
Sikandar isn’t just bad—it’s a glaring sign that Salman’s formula has expired. Nine years since Sultan, six since Bharat, and we’re still getting recycled scripts that treat audiences like naive toddlers. The film’s tagline should’ve been: “Dastaan-e-Salman: Ab Bas Karo” (The Tale of Salman: Please Stop Now).
If you’re a hardcore Bhai fan, maybe watch it for nostalgia. For everyone else? Save your money. This isn’t just a bad movie—it’s a cry for help. Salman, take a bow. And then take a break.
Additional Context & Sources:
- For Salman Khan’s filmography: IMDb
- Sikandar’s official trailer: YouTube
- About the filmmakers: Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment | Salman Khan Films
