From Eid Release to Sleepless Shoots: Murugadoss Says Sikandar Was No Walk in the Park

In a candid revelation that’s making waves across Bollywood circles, director AR Murugadoss has broken his silence on the behind-the-scenes challenges of filming Sikandar, the much-hyped action drama starring Salman Khan. Despite its Eid release and a star-studded cast, the film failed to deliver at the box office, and Murugadoss is now owning up to both creative missteps and logistical nightmares—many of which stemmed from the superstar’s unconventional work schedule.

Here’s a deep dive into what went wrong, what was learned, and what it means for future collaborations in the industry.

Key takeaways from Murugadoss’s revelations

1. Salman Khan’s late arrival on set—typically around 8 PM—forced the crew to shoot day scenes at night  
2. Child actors struggled with sleep deprivation during overnight shoots  
3. The film’s emotional core was lost in translation due to execution flaws  
4. Sikandar’s box office performance fell short of expectations, despite a strong opening  
5. Murugadoss compares the experience to his earlier success with Ghajini, citing comfort with remakes  

The Salman Khan effect: A schedule turned upside down

Murugadoss didn’t mince words when describing the logistical hurdles of working with Salman Khan. The actor’s preference for arriving on set in the evening meant that scenes meant to be shot in daylight had to be filmed under artificial lighting, often past midnight. This shift in schedule disrupted the rhythm of the crew, who were accustomed to early morning shoots.

- Day scenes were routinely shot at night, creating continuity challenges  
- Child actors were required to perform at 2 AM, even in scenes depicting school returns  
- Crew members had to adapt to an inverted workday, impacting energy and morale  

Murugadoss noted that while Salman remained disciplined once on set, the delay in arrival created a domino effect that complicated production timelines and strained the cast.

Creative vision vs execution reality

Sikandar was intended to be a deeply emotional story centered around a king who loses his wife and attempts to redeem himself by helping the recipients of her donated organs. The narrative was designed to explore themes of guilt, redemption, and human connection. However, Murugadoss admitted that the execution didn’t match the emotional depth of the concept.

- The story involved the king befriending a village while fulfilling his wife’s unspoken wishes  
- Murugadoss felt the audience couldn’t connect with the emotional arc due to flawed storytelling  
- He acknowledged that the original script lacked the clarity and control he had with remakes like Ghajini  

Box office blues: Sikandar’s underwhelming performance

Despite a massive budget and festival release, Sikandar failed to sustain momentum at the box office. The film opened with a promising ₹30.06 crore but quickly lost steam, wrapping up with a domestic net of ₹129.95 crore. Globally, it managed ₹211.34 crore, which was far below expectations for a Salman Khan vehicle.

- Mixed reviews and poor word-of-mouth contributed to the decline  
- Competition from other releases like Raid 2 accelerated its exit from theatres  
- Piracy reportedly caused an additional ₹91 crore in revenue loss  

Cast and crew dynamics

The film featured an ensemble cast including Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, and Sathyaraj. While performances were praised in pockets, the erratic shoot schedule reportedly affected overall cohesion.

- Child actors were particularly impacted by late-night shoots  
- Murugadoss expressed concern over the toll on younger cast members  
- The director hinted at returning to Hindi cinema only if he finds a more comfortable creative zone  

Final thoughts

AR Murugadoss’s honest reflections offer a rare glimpse into the complexities of working with megastars and the high-stakes nature of Bollywood filmmaking. While Sikandar may not have lived up to its promise, the conversation it has sparked around production discipline, creative control, and audience connection is likely to shape future projects.

Sources: OdishaTV, MSN India, NewsX, Firstpost, Times of India, Times Now, Mid-Day.