Nawazuddin Siddiqui Defends Salman Khan After ‘Sikandar’ Flop: ‘Don’t Blame the Star, Blame the Script

As ‘Sikandar’ Underperforms, Nawazuddin Says Salman Gave the Makers His Fanbase on a Platter—It Was Their Job to Deliver

Salman Khan’s much-anticipated film, Sikandar, released on March 30, 2025, during the festive Eid weekend, has underperformed at the box office, garnering approximately ₹129.95 crore net in India against a substantial budget of ₹200 crore . Despite a strong opening day collection of ₹30.06 crore, the film’s earnings dwindled rapidly, with reports indicating a mere ₹9 lakh on its 21st day .

Critics and audiences have pointed to the film’s lackluster script and direction as primary reasons for its underwhelming performance. Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, Sikandar was anticipated to be a mass entertainer but failed to resonate with viewers. The film’s narrative, centered around a protagonist challenging a corrupt system, was deemed clichéd and uninspired .

In defense of Khan, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui commented on the film’s failure, stating that the responsibility lies with the filmmakers for not capitalizing on Khan’s star power. He emphasized that a compelling script is essential to leverage an actor’s popularity effectively .

Director Murugadoss acknowledged the challenges of working with superstars, noting that it’s difficult to remain entirely true to the script when catering to a massive fan base .
Despite the setback, Khan remains optimistic. He has reportedly approached Bajrangi Bhaijaan writer V. Vijayendra Prasad to work on a sequel to Sikandar.

Additionally, fans are eager to see if Salman Khan will proceed with Kick 2, potentially slated for release next Eid .