Salman Khan announces release date of ‘Sikandar’

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan announced on Wednesday that his highly anticipated film Sikandar will hit theatres worldwide on March 30, 2025, coinciding with the festival of Eid. Directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Sikandar promises to be a high-octane action entertainer with a heartwarming message.

Salman took to his social media handles to share the release date, posting a new poster with the caption: “See you in theatres worldwide on 30th March! #Sikandar #SajidNadiadwala’s #Sikandar Directed by @ARMurugadoss @iamRashmika #Sathyaraj @TheSharmanJoshi @MsKajalAggarwal @prateikbabbar #AnjiniDhawan @jatinsarna #AyanKhan @DOP_Tirru @ipritamofficial @Music_Santhosh @NGEMovies @SKFilmsOfficial @ZeeMusicCompany @PenMovies @WardaNadiadwala #SikandarEid2025.”

The film features an ensemble cast that includes Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, Anjini Dhawan, and Jatin Sarna. Rashmika Mandanna, who has been making waves in Bollywood with her performances in Animal and Chhaava, plays the female lead.

AR Murugadoss, known for delivering blockbusters like Ghajini and Darbar, spoke about the challenges of directing a superstar like Salman Khan.

He acknowledged that working with megastars demands balancing the script with elements that cater to their massive fan base. Murugadoss emphasised that when collaborating with superstars, staying 100 per cent true to the script becomes difficult, as the focus shifts to satisfying the audience and ensuring a strong opening. He added that Sikandar is crafted with Salman’s hardcore fans in mind but also carries a unique emotional story, including a heartwarming husband-wife relationship, reminiscent of the emotional depth seen in Ghajini.

The director further revealed that Sikandar underscores the importance of family amidst life’s hustle. “Today, people do not have time to spend with their family, whether it is their father, mother, or friends. We always focus on work… Though it is a commercial film, it has a beautiful message,” he said.

Murugadoss recalled his first interaction with Salman Khan during the making of Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty in 2014. The director had expressed his desire to work with Salman, and the superstar reciprocated the interest. Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, producer Sajid Nadiadwala approached Murugadoss for a script. Upon hearing the initial idea, Nadiadwala believed Salman was the perfect fit for the role. The project came to fruition after a meeting with Salman at his Galaxy apartment in Mumbai, where Salman’s positive response indicated his enthusiasm for the script.

Murugadoss admitted that they often had different interpretations of certain scenes during the shoot. When disagreements arose, both versions were shot, and the final decision was made during the editing process. Asked about casting Rashmika Mandanna opposite Salman, the director justified the age gap, stating that the character is shown to have married late in life, making it relevant to the story.

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Meanwhile, Murugadoss was also filming for Madharasi, starring Sivakarthikeyan, while working on Sikandar. He had initially planned to complete Madharasi first but postponed it after Salman expressed his eagerness to prioritize Sikandar. Murugadoss revealed that only 20 days of work remain on Madharasi, which is expected to release later this year.

With Sikandar, Murugadoss aims to deliver a film that combines Salman Khan’s signature action with an emotional story that resonates with families. As the film gears up for a grand Eid release on March 30, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a cinematic extravaganza.