AR Murugadoss, best known for Ghajini and Holiday, teamed up with Salman Khan for the big-budget Eid 2025 release Sikandar. The pan-India action drama arrived with massive expectations but ended up grossing only around ₹176–177 crore worldwide against a ₹200 crore budget, falling short of projections.
Director Opens Up on Filming Chaos on Sikandar
Speaking to Galatta Plus, Murugadoss shared the difficulties he faced due to Salman Khan’s unusual shooting schedule. He described the challenges of collaborating with a star like Salman, noting that it was “not easy” due to the actor’s distinctive working style.
He said, “We had to shoot entirely with green screen and VFX. Even day scenes, we have to shoot at night because he turns up to sets only by 8 PM. We are people who are used to shooting right from early mornings, but that’s not how things work there.”
The director added how challenging it became to handle younger actors. “If there were four kids in a scene, we would have to shoot with them at 2 AM, even if it’s the shot of them returning from school. They would become tired by that time and usually dozed off.”
Creative Struggles in Sikandar Compared to Ghajini
Murugadoss also contrasted Sikandar with his earlier blockbuster Ghajini. He admitted, “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. I couldn’t execute it well.”
Apart from scheduling issues, the director recalled how security concerns surrounding Salman Khan further slowed production. With threats looming over the superstar, extensive checks of the thousands of extras delayed filming by hours, pushing shoots even deeper into the night.
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Earlier this year, in an interview, Salman responded to rumors about his late arrivals on set. The actor said that his “timings are different” and emphasized that once he reaches the set, he doesn’t return to his vanity van or sit idle, highlighting his own approach to maintaining discipline at work.
What’s Next for Murugadoss
Murugadoss’s remarks have quickly sparked debate online. While some fans agreed that heavy VFX compromises storytelling, others argued that a filmmaker of his stature should adapt to star-driven demands. Social media commentary included reminders to “focus on your script rather than only complaining.”
Despite Sikandar’s poor response, Murugadoss has moved back to Tamil cinema. His next directorial Madharaasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, is slated for a September 2025 release, with many fans hoping it marks his return to form.
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