“Salman Khan’s Sikandar: From Eid Blockbuster Dream to Netflix Troll Fest”

Salman Khan’s latest cinematic venture, Sikandar, was expected to be a blockbuster. Release over the festive Eid season—a time usually connected with significant film achievements in Bollywood. Working together, Khan and well-known filmmaker AR Murugadoss created a lot of hype since fans were yearning for a very intense action drama. But the movie’s path from theaters to its most recent Netflix release has been anything but triumphant

Production details 

Directed by AR Murugadoss, known for his work in both Tamil and Hindi cinema, Sikandar was produced under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.  Reflecting its lofty aspirations, the movie claimed a large budget of ₹200 crore. Filming took place at various locations in Mumbai and Hyderabad, incorporating both urban and traditional elements to enhance the story’s complexity

Cast and characters

At the forefront of Sikandar is Salman Khan as Sanjay Rajkot, a kind king thrown into crisis. Playing his wife, Saisri, Rashmika Mandanna, whose tragic fate sets the story in motion.  With Sathyaraj as the antagonistic minister, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, and others each adding to the complex tapestry of characters in the movie, the supporting cast is equally strong.

Plot Synopsis

The narrative centers on Sanjay Rajkot, a cherished monarch whose life takes a drastic turn after a corrupt minister murders his wife, Saisri. In her dying act of charity, Saisri offers three Mumbai residents her organs. The antagonist’s vendetta leads him to target these recipients, compelling Sanjay to step in and protect them.  The narrative threads are sacrifice, atonement, and the struggle against systematic corruption 

Release from Theatre 

Sikandar hit theaters on March 30, 2025, strategically aligning with Eid celebrations. Leveraging the holiday’s higher movie-going crowd, this timing was supposed to boost box office receipts. Initial trailers and promotional materials had set high expectations, suggesting a film rich in action and emotional depth.

 Performance at the Box Office

Though the release was joyous, Sikandar proved to be among the biggest disappointments in recent Bollywood memory. Though reality hit hard, dreams were sky high. With a ₹200 crore budget, expected to rule the box office, the movie failed, even hitting the ₹100 crore net mark in India. This ranked it under even Salman Khan’s past underperformer, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, which at least scraped together somewhat better. 

The first weekend was a warning sign. Despite wide releases and holiday crowds, ticket sales didn’t match projections.  Many theaters started cutting showings due to low foot traffic by the end of the first week; multiplexes reported lower-than-expected occupancy rates. Though they had a fraction of the budget, movies like Jaat and Kesari 2, which came out about the same time, fared far better. 

Critical Reception

Critics did not treat Sikandar well. Reviews all around attacked the outmoded story and repeated action scenes in the movie. Some critics termed the screenplay uninspired; others said it was a film caught in a time warp. Publications like The Indian Express and Film Companion noted the lack of originality and emotional engagement.

The way Salman Khan performed also came under close review. Critics pointed to his lack of energy and the same old dialogue delivery style that has dogged his most recent movies. Once a superb director, AR Murugadoss reportedly lost his magic and produced a movie more like a patchwork of clichés than a coherent story. Audience reviews reflected similar opinions on aggregators and social mediafurther damaging the film’s reputation.

Factors Causing Underperformance

What, therefore, went wrong? Quite a lot. First, the script did not appeal to viewers of today. Sikandar stayed true to the traditional “revenge drama” design, whereas content-driven films and creative tales are winning hearts in this age. The emotional stakes were unreal, and the narrative lacked subtlety. 

Second, the orientation was straightforward. Known for his compelling thrillers, AR Murugadoss delivered a film that felt uninspired. Action scenes lacked flair, and character arcs were weak. Especially when younger viewers turned toward better, more interesting movies, even Salman Khan’s huge following couldn’t help the movie survive.

Third, competition was fierce. Both commercially and critically, films like Jaat and Kesari 2 resonated more with viewers. These movies were better made and provided greater value to moviegoers with thinner budgets and tighter screenplays. 

Finally, the specter of internet piracy loomed large. Within days, the HD print leaked online, cannibalizing whatever opportunity it had to gather momentum via word-of-mouth

Transition to OTT 

Sikandar* sought OTT for redemption after failing in theaters. Netflix acquired the digital rights and scheduled the premiere for May 25, just eight weeks after the theatrical release. With many of the home-viewing audience not troubled with a theater visit, the movie hoped to find a second wind among them.

The approach of Netflix was both clever and cautious. There was little advertising, likely because the streamer was cautious about overhyping a product that had already been labeled a flop. Nevertheless, the Netflix name and its vast audience ensured that Sikandar would appear on the homepage of millions of users, providing at least a chance for interaction.

OTT Reception and Release 

Sikandar* premiered on Netflix on May 25, and as was expected, responses were immediate and violent. While the film did see a short spike in viewership due to curiosity, most audiences weren’t impressed. Many watched simply to see how terrible it truly was. Within hours, memes, screenshots, and clips exploded on Reddit, X (previously Twitter), and Instagram. 

The “Netflix redemption arc” that some flops manage to achieve did not materialize. Instead, Sikandar became a symbol of wasted potential. While Netflix’s algorithms might still surface it to unsuspecting users looking for “action thrillers,” chances are they’ll tune out before the end credits roll.

Social Media  Reactions

Social media allowed free will to run wild. Sikandar started to become a meme goldmine right away on Netflix. Reddit threads on “Watched Sikandar so you don’t have to” and “Salman Khan’s career in a nutshell” emerged. Users of X (now Twitter) roasted everything, including the vocal delivery and the highly graphic action scenes. Short clips of embarrassing emotional moments and terrible battle choreography became viral very fast. 

On Instagram and TikTok, they were no different. Scenes from the film started being used by influencers as parodies and reaction video material. Even casual movie buffs offered caustic assessments, several of which claimed they saw the movie only to “see how bad it could be.” The phrase “Troll Fest,” which began trending, captures the internet’s ridicule following the movie’s OTT release. 

The worst part is that some of this trolling found expression in a sarcastic audience. People were tuning in just to be part of the joke, which gave Sikandar a peculiar afterlife as a so-bad-its-funny watch. Unfortunately, this type of attention rarely results in a significant legacy for a film.

Career Effects for Salman Khan  

Sikandar offers Salman Khan yet another flaw to add to a career that requires more and more reinventions. Though he still commands immense star power, recent films have suffered a dramatic decline in quality and audience involvement. Though Sikandar was supposed to be his main comeback, with a poor reception post-Tiger 3*, but it ended up reinforcing the perception that the superstar is out of touch with current cinematic trends.

Larger-than-life characters, punchy one-liners, and gravity-defying action—Khan’s trademark approach feels out of date in the content-rich, nuanced entertainment scene of today. Younger stars are connecting more with audiences thanks to diverse scripts and fresh storytelling. If Salman doesn’t pivot soon, he risks becoming a relic of a bygone era rather than an evergreen entertainer.

 Salman runs the danger of becoming a relic of a bygone age instead of an evergreen performer if he does not turn around quickly. Though buzz still emanates from upcoming projects, the box office is not forgiving anymore. The failure of Sikandar makes abundantly clear: star power by itself is insufficient. The superstar has to change along with the material. 

Vision of director AR Murugadoss 

AR Murugadoss has a reputation for crafting gripping action thrillers with emotional undertones—Ghajini and Thuppakki being prime examples. But with Sikandar, it felt like the director lost his storytelling edge. The plot, though high in stakes, lacked emotional connectivity. Characters were one-dimensional, and the pacing dragged in several places.

 Critics pointed out that Murugadoss seemed torn between creating a mass entertainer and a meaningful drama, ultimately succeeding at neither. It didn’t help that the screenplay was riddled with clichés—revenge, corrupt politicians, over-the-top action—all stitched together without freshness or finesse.

 This failure may also serve as a warning to the director. The Bollywood audience has matured, and their expectations are much higher. Murugadoss will need to revisit the magic that once made his stories resonate or risk fading into obscurity 

Music and cinematography.

 Despite the narrative shortcomings, Sikandar wasn’t entirely devoid of merit. The music, composed by Pritam, had a few memorable tracks. “Dil Ke Sheher Mein” and “Tere Naam Ki Kahani” gained some traction on streaming platforms, even if they didn’t become chart-toppers. Pritam’s melodic touch added emotional depth to otherwise hollow scenes.

 Cinematography, handled by the veteran Tirru, was visually arresting in parts. The palace scenes were majestic, and action sequences, though overdone, were shot with technical precision. The color grading and lighting gave the film a polished aesthetic, but sadly, it wasn’t enough to save the overall experience.

 Even so, music and visuals could only do so much. Without a solid script and compelling characters, these elements felt ornamental rather than integral to the story

 Conclusion 

Sikandar serves as a cautionary tale for Bollywood—a reminder that star power, lavish budgets, and visual gloss aren’t substitutes for effective storytelling. Salman Khan’s potential comeback morphed into an online spectacle that garnered more ridicule than viewership.

 While the transition to Netflix may garner some residual viewership, it’s evident that today’s audiences expect a higher quality of content, regardless of whether it’s in theaters or on OTT; Sikandar failed to meet these expectations. Filmmakers and actors should reconsider their strategy, give quality top priority, and catch up with the evolving tastes of their audience.

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