Salman Khan returns to the big screen with Sikandar, a much-hyped Eid release directed by A.R. Murugadoss, the filmmaker behind action hits like Ghajini and Holiday.
Touted as a full-blown action drama with an emotional core, Sikandar promised the classic Salman Khan experience—heroism, family values, and punch-packed dialogues. Alongside Salman, the film stars Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sathyaraj in key roles, with music by Pritam and background score by Santhosh Narayanan. While the promotional material hinted at a socially driven action drama, the end result unfortunately struggles to rise above its predictable writing and dated storytelling style.
Sikandar: Plot
Set in Rajkot, Sikandar follows the story of Sanjay Rajkot (Salman Khan), a local hero with a messiah-like image in his town. Sanjay, nicknamed “Sikandar” by the people, is a noble and charismatic man who helps the needy, solves problems, and is admired for his sense of justice. His wife Saisri (Rashmika Mandanna) is a schoolteacher who believes in service to humanity, and her decision to donate her organs becomes a central narrative device.
The twist comes when one of the people who receives her organ donation turns out to be connected to a political conspiracy involving a corrupt minister, Rakesh Pradhan (Sathyaraj), and his scheming son Arjun (Prateik Babbar). What begins as a feel-good tale soon turns into a clash between good and evil, as Sikandar finds himself forced to take up arms to protect not just his wife’s legacy, but the dignity of his people.
The plot attempts to touch upon noble themes—organ donation, political corruption, and social justice—but these ideas get lost in a sea of formulaic storytelling. The first half is mostly spent building Sikandar’s image as the ideal man, with heavy-handed monologues and stylized action. The second half spirals into a revenge-driven narrative that’s been seen a dozen times before in mass entertainers. There’s very little surprise, and the climax, though emotional on paper, fails to land with the impact it aims for.
Sikandar: Performances
Salman Khan, as always, brings his signature screen presence. He looks the part, whether he’s riding a bike in slow motion, bashing up goons, or delivering dialogue-heavy scenes meant to evoke cheers from the audience. However, the character of Sikandar doesn’t offer anything new for Salman. It’s a rehash of the same morally upright, invincible hero he’s played in countless films before. There are moments where he tries to emote, especially in scenes related to Saisri’s health, but the emotional beats feel surface-level.
Rashmika Mandanna brings a refreshing energy in the first half. Her character is warm and idealistic, but she’s sidelined post-interval, reduced to a symbolic presence rather than an active participant in the story. Kajal Aggarwal, in a smaller but impactful role, feels underutilized, and one wishes the film explored her character more meaningfully.
Sathyaraj, playing the antagonist, delivers a dependable performance, but his character is straight out of the 90s villain playbook—power-hungry, cruel, and lacking nuance. Prateik Babbar is earnest but doesn’t get enough screen time or layers to work with. Supporting characters, including comic sidekicks and local townsfolk, add nothing substantial to the narrative.
Sikandar: Analysis
A.R. Murugadoss has a reputation for blending action with strong emotional stories. In Sikandar, he tries to do the same, but the execution feels dated. The screenplay moves from one predictable beat to the next without offering anything innovative. Every conflict is resolved through either a sermon or a punch, and the emotional transitions lack finesse.
The production design is grand, with sweeping drone shots of rural Gujarat and stylized action sequences filmed in slow motion. However, the film’s insistence on glorifying the central character at every turn overshadows the more human aspects of the story. There’s a constant need to remind the audience that Sikandar is larger than life, and in doing so, the film forgets to show us the man behind the myth.
Musically, Pritam delivers a few decent tracks. The romantic number between Salman and Rashmika is catchy, and the background score by Santhosh Narayanan does try to elevate the action. But the music doesn’t linger, and given the film’s scale, you’d expect at least one memorable anthem—which never arrives.
The editing also feels inconsistent. Some scenes drag on longer than necessary, while others are cut abruptly. The pacing suffers especially in the second half, which feels stretched and overly melodramatic. The dialogues, though punchy in parts, rely too heavily on recycled themes of honor, justice, and sacrifice.
Sikandar: Verdict
Sikandar is a film that tries to do too much and ends up delivering too little. It aims to be a socially conscious action drama but settles for a predictable masala entertainer. While Salman Khan fans might enjoy the film for his charisma and larger-than-life persona, those looking for a fresh story or an emotional rollercoaster may walk away disappointed.
Despite noble intentions and a few impactful moments, the film ultimately drowns in its old-school storytelling and lack of emotional depth. If you’re in the mood for a nostalgic throwback to the kind of films Salman used to do a decade ago, Sikandar might work. But for today’s audience, craving more nuance and realism in storytelling, it falls short.
Sikandar: Rating
Critics Rating: 3/5
Box Office Rating: 2/5
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