Bollywood’s beloved superstar Salman Khan returned to the big screen with Sikandar on March 30, 2025, aiming to recreate the magic of his previous Eid blockbusters. Directed by AR Murugadoss and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, the film generated massive buzz prior to its release, especially among Salman’s loyal fanbase. But as the dust settles after the opening weekend, Sikandar finds itself navigating through a mix of applause, criticism, and comparison.
Powerful Start at the Box Office
As expected, Sikandar has hit the theatres with a strong opening, earning ₹30 crore on its first day alone. While this figure is undoubtedly impressive, especially in the post-pandemic box office environment, it does not quite surpass the initial records set by Salman’s Eid releases like Bajrangi Bhaijaan or Sultan. However, the initial figures still prove that the star power Salman Khan commands today.
What are the critics saying?
Critics were not as generous as the audience when it came to assessing Sikandar’s cinematic prowess. The Times of India rated the film 2 out of 5, citing the lack of a compelling narrative and the lack of action sequences. Despite Murugadoss’ direction and a strong social message at the heart of the film, the execution seems to have left many people scratching their heads.
Bollywood Hungama echoed similar sentiments, giving it a 2.5 star rating. While acknowledging Salman’s screen presence and the film’s intent, they criticized the inconsistent storytelling and thin character development, noting that the emotional depth promised in the trailers did not quite translate to the screen.
What Audiences Think?
When it comes to the audience, opinions are far more divided. A section of the audience has praised the film as a complete entertainer, mixing action with emotion in classic “Bhai” fashion. Social media is abuzz with posts celebrating Salman’s performance, especially in the more emotional scenes.
Others, however, were not so enthusiastic. A recurring criticism is that Alexander played it too safely, relying too heavily on old formulas without offering anything new. Some felt that the plot lacked freshness, while others pointed out that the star’s performance also seemed a little disconnected in places.
Hit or Flop?
So is Sikandar a hit or a flop? Financially, the film seems to be on solid ground – at least for now. But creatively, the response has been mixed at best. For die-hard Salman fans, this is another reason to rejoice and celebrate. For the average moviegoer or someone expecting innovation, it may fall short of expectations.
In the end, Sikandar proves once again that while star power can drive audiences to the theatres, strong storytelling remains the true king of the box office.
