BY NAMITA DOGRA SUDAN
Salman Khan’s much-awaited film Sikandar, directed by A.R. Murugadoss, has finally hit theaters, releasing on March 29 in the USA and March 30 in India. While fans had high expectations, the film has turned out to be one of Salman’s biggest disappointments in recent years. Despite a strong opening sequence, the movie quickly loses its grip due to choppy editing, weak storytelling, and an incoherent screenplay. It attempts to blend revenge, social issues, and action but fails to connect them in a meaningful way, making the entire experience feel mismatched and disjointed.
NRI Pulse spoke to a young Salman Khan fan, Rishi Patel, who had been eagerly waiting for Sikandar. Before the film, his excitement was through the roof. Even after watching it, he held on to his undying love for Salman and said, “It was worth the wait!” However, inside the theater, the response from the general audience was quite different. Several viewers seemed unimpressed and disappointed. Salman Khan has always been known for his larger-than-life screen presence, but this time, even his die-hard fans seemed underwhelmed. The film lacks the signature energy and impact that his past blockbusters have delivered, making it difficult to engage with.
One of the biggest issues with Sikandar is Salman Khan himself. Over the years, he seems to have lost his touch, appearing either uninterested in acting or simply taking his fans for granted. His dialogue delivery is painfully slow, his dancing looks as if someone is forcing him to do it, and his expressions lack conviction. It almost feels like director A.R. Murugadoss was too afraid to instruct him or even say “cut,” as if Salman had the final say in everything about the film. Rather than playing a well-defined character, Salman Khan simply looks and behaves like himself in real life, making the movie feel more like an extension of his personal brand rather than a cinematic experience.
Performance-wise, there are a few bright spots. Prateik Babbar shines with an intense and gripping performance, especially in the introductory scenes, standing out as the film’s biggest surprise. Rashmika Mandanna looks good on screen but doesn’t have much to do. Kajal Aggarwal’s character attempts to address patriarchy and other social issues, but her arc remains underdeveloped. Satya Raj, best known as Katappa, plays the antagonist, but his character’s revenge motive feels weak and unconvincing. The biggest disappointment comes from Sharman Joshi, whose slow and awkward dialogue delivery makes several scenes drag unnecessarily.
One of the major issues with Sikandar is its inconsistent execution. The film has all the elements of a mass entertainer, high-energy action, star power, and a hit director but none of them blend well together. It feels like a dish made with top-quality ingredients, but each one is from a different cuisine, resulting in an unbalanced and confusing experience. Salman’s much-debated age gap with Rashmika is also noticeable, making their chemistry look unnatural. Even the action sequences, which should be the film’s strength, feel outdated and forced.
Technically, the movie suffers from abrupt editing that makes scenes feel disconnected. The screenplay meanders, making the two-hour-and-thirty-minute runtime feel even longer. Some scenes also suffer from dubbing issues, taking away from the film’s authenticity. The biggest flaw, however, is that Sikandar simply doesn’t make sense. The revenge angle lacks depth, and the emotional beats fail to resonate, leaving the audience feeling disconnected.
The only redeeming part of the movie was the song “Zohar Jabeen,” a visual treat that was well-picturized and choreographed by Farah Khan. However, it appeared abruptly in the film, almost like a commercial break. The rest of the songs were average– beautifully shot, but Salman Khan seemed disinterested in dancing. While reports confirm that he had broken two ribs during the shooting of Sikandar, he still performed in the Bam Bam Bhole song despite his injury.
If you’re interested in watching well-picturized songs with average music and an uninspired lead actor, my suggestion is to watch the songs on YouTube. You’ll save yourself a lot of time, energy, and money and avoid frustration, especially if you’re not a Salman fan and went to the theater hoping for a good movie.
To regain the respect of his fans, Salman Khan needs to start acting again, really acting. He needs to stop relying on his star power and start choosing intelligent scripts and well-written roles. His audience has evolved, and if he continues to sleepwalk through his films, even his most loyal fans may start to lose interest. Sikandar had potential, but in the end, it feels like a missed opportunity. What was expected to be Salman’s big comeback has only added another failure to his recent streak of flops. Fans may hold onto hope, but for the general audience, Sikandar is simply not worth the hype.
