Sikandar Movie Review: It Is Salman  Khan’s Waterloo!

Sikandar Is Salman  Khan’s  Waterloo

Rating: ½ star

  Salman Khan’s  new release  is a travesty  of all  good taste and  a mockery of all rational justification for a film to exist.  It also shamelessly mocks  Salman’s  superstardom by  giving him a  screenplay, probably  written as a joke by someone who has a grudge  against him, which  treats his royal character  like some kind of a super-hero who  was lobotomized by marauders when the haveli’s  doors were  open.

Salman’s  Raja Saab, aka  Sikandar and Sanjay(his parents  were fans  of  Indian  history and Sunil Dutt-Nargis, we are told)  wears  a single  expression throughout. Even when he in acute pain(we know that feeling)  he  seems to be  stress-free..Sab theek ho jayega,  just chill.

This seems to Mr Khan’s  motion picture motto.The  rest of the team  follows suit. Not one  actor   makes an  effort to  get into character for two reasons: the writing  doesn’t  allow them  to. More importantly if the Bhai’s  preferred  mode of  expression is stoicism, then the lesser mortals must follow the same  route.

 Actors like Sharman Joshi(playing Mr Khan’s mumbling adviser) , Kajal Aggarwal(playing…I am not too sure even  she knows what) and Sathyaraj(playing  Bhai’s  growling nemesis)  are lost in the  crowd.As for Prateik Smita Patil, playing a brat  who  tries to molest  a  female passenger in  the  business class(a  quality  seriously missing in this brackish mocktale), Mom must be so proud of you!

In all fairness, director Murugadoss must have been given  a  simple brief:  make sure the hero gets  eulogized  in every sequence, if not every frame.

   The panegyrics flow like toothpaste from an uncapped tube: Raja Saab  ki jai ho, woh insaan  nahin devata hain, Raj  Saab abhi  aane wale hain …etc etc. I am not too sure if these exact words are used. But you get the drift?

  I  certainly didn’t. After two-and-a-half  hours of brain bashing the  Saman-is-King-and-what-can-SRK-do about it  brand of filmmaking begins to wear dangerously thin. The plot  is overleden with activity: Salman is  constantly on the move while the  mood throughout remains obstinately inert, as  if to mock the audience that believes Salman Khan should change. Why should he, when  he is doing just fine?

 The problem is, he is not! Even  the staunchest  Salmaniacs would  cringe at  the  sheer gawkiness of the  writing here. The first half  is about Salman searching for three organ donees. This could make  for a mildly  diverting 7-episode series on Doordarshan…but a  full-length feature film featuring one of India’s most beloved superstars?!

 Salman needs  a reality check. And  this  is not the time or place  for  it. Sikandar is like a lengthy  misguided tilt of the  topi to tinsel town’s Tipu Sultan. It is so  awful  that  it makes Salman’s last Eid outing seem  preferable…On second thoughts, both belong to the junkyard.

The only funny line(unintended) is when Sanjay Rajkot/Salman tries to talk in colloquial Hindi to a chawl boy and  stops saying, “This language doesn’t suit me.”

 Now, if only Salman Khan tried to find out what  suits him. Rashmika Mandana  who has been in  a few blockbusters  recently, doesn’t stand a   ghost of a chance.

About the Movie

“Sikandar,” the latest action thriller starring Salman Khan, has captivated audiences since its release on March 30, 2025. Directed by A.R. Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film features Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead, marking her first collaboration with Khan. ​YouTube+10Wikipedia+10Bollywood Hungama+10

Here are some lesser-known facts about “Sikandar”:

1. Reunion After a Decade: This film marks the reunion of Salman Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala after nearly ten years since their last collaboration on “Kick” in 2014. ​Wikipedia

2. Directorial First: Despite initial plans for Khan to star in Murugadoss’s “Ghajini” (2008), “Sikandar” is their first project together. ​Bollywood Hungama+9News24+9Wikipedia+9

3. International Filming: The movie was shot across multiple countries, including Portugal and other European locations, adding a global appeal to its visuals. ​Wikipedia

4. High Production Costs: With an estimated budget of ₹200 crore, “Sikandar” stands as one of the most expensive films produced by Nadiadwala and ranks among the costliest Indian films to date. ​Wikipedia+1Bollywood Hungama+1

5. Elaborate Sets: To authentically depict areas like Dharavi and Matunga, sets worth ₹15 crore were constructed in Mumbai. ​Wikipedia

6. Salman Khan’s Injury: During filming in September 2024, Khan sustained a rib injury but resumed shooting shortly after recovery. ​Wikipedia

7. Security Concerns: Production faced interruptions due to security threats directed at Khan, leading to enhanced on-set security measures. ​Wikipedia

8. Festive Dance Numbers: The film features elaborate dance sequences set against the backdrop of festivals like Eid and Holi, showcasing vibrant choreography with over 200 background dancers. ​

9. Train Action Sequence: A significant action scene involving a train was filmed with 350 extras on sets replicating Mumbai’s suburban areas. ​

10. Teaser Release: The official teaser, released three months prior to the film’s debut, offered audiences a glimpse into the high-octane action and intense drama of “Sikandar.”