Salman Khan’s much-hyped film Sikandar has failed to deliver at the box office, earning Rs 184.89 crore against a reported Rs 200 crore budget. Released earlier this year under the direction of AR Murugadoss, the movie featured Rashmika Mandanna, Sathyaraj, and Sharman Joshi alongside Khan. Now, in an interview with Valaipechu Voice, Murugadoss has admitted that the story, though emotional, was not executed effectively, leading to its underperformance.
AR Murugadoss on Sikandar’s struggles
Speaking about the setback, Murugadoss said the film’s narrative was based on deep emotions but failed to connect with audiences.
“Actually, the base story is very emotional. It’s about a king who doesn’t truly understand his wife. We are all like that — whether it’s with our mother, friend, or wife, we often don’t value relationships. Only when someone leaves us forever do we feel the weight of guilt,” he explained in the interview.
The director added that while the plot carried strong sentiments, he could not bring it to life convincingly on screen. “The story was emotional, but I couldn’t execute it well,” he admitted.
Comparing Ghajini and Sikandar
Murugadoss also compared Sikandar with his earlier blockbuster Ghajini (2008), which was a Hindi remake of his Tamil film.
“I could pull off Ghajini because it was a remake, not an original script. I had already done it before, so I had complete command. With Sikandar, that wasn’t the case,” he said.
While Ghajini, starring Aamir Khan, grossed Rs 194.10 crore worldwide against a modest Rs 52 crore budget, Sikandar failed to recover its massive Rs 200 crore production cost.
Box office numbers
- Budget: Rs 200 crore
- Worldwide collection: Rs 184.89 crore
- Shortfall: Approximately Rs 15 crore
The film’s inability to cross its budget despite Salman Khan’s star power and a festive release window has sparked debate in the industry about storytelling, audience expectations, and the risks of mounting large-scale original scripts.
What’s next for AR Murugadoss?
Despite the disappointment, Murugadoss confirmed he has no plans to step away from Bollywood.
“I’m not saying I won’t return to Hindi cinema; I definitely will if I find my comfort zone. But when the audience can’t connect with my thinking, it affects me deeply,” he said.
The filmmaker’s candid admission has been appreciated by fans and critics alike, marking a rare moment of accountability in the industry.
Industry reaction
Film trade analysts say Sikandar highlights the growing importance of content over star power. Even with Salman Khan in the lead and a seasoned director at the helm, the film’s reception showed that audiences expect tighter narratives and engaging execution.
With rising production costs in Bollywood, analysts warn that commercial risks will remain high for original scripts unless backed by strong storytelling and marketing
