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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sikandar director AR Murugadoss admits shooting with Salman Khan is 'not easy': 'We have to shoot at night as he turns up to sets only by 8 PM...'
Director AR Murugadoss faced challenges while filming 'Sikandar' with Salman Khan. Khan's late arrival at 8 PM disrupted the schedule. The crew filmed day scenes at night. This unusual timing affected child actors. They often fell asleep during shoots. Salman Khan defended his timings. He said he remains disciplined once on set. Shooting with a superstar comes with its own set of challenges, and director AR Murugadoss recently opened up about his experience working with Salman Khan on Sikandar. The filmmaker revealed that the actor's unique working style, including his habit of arriving on set late in the evening, forced the crew to adjust their schedules and even film day scenes at night, creating unexpected hurdles—especially for child actors. Late night shoots In a recent YouTube podcast with Valaipechu Voice, Murugadoss spoke candidly about his experience working with Salman Khan on Sikandar, set for release in 2025. 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. The Sikandar director revealed that the team often had to wait for the 59-year-old superstar, who typically arrived on set around 8:00 pm. Accustomed to early morning shoots, the crew had to film day sequences at night, which posed a major challenge for the team. He said it wasn't easy to shoot with a star like Salman Khan. Even day scenes had to be filmed at night because Salman typically arrived on set only by 8 PM. The crew, used to early morning shoots, had to adjust to this unusual schedule. Impact on fellow actors, especially children The director also added that Salman Khan's late arrival caused problems for other actors, particularly child artists, who often grew tired and fell asleep during the night shoots. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The director, 50, recalled having to film scenes with kids at 2:00 AM, even if the scene involved them coming home from school. Salman Khan responds to rumors Earlier this year, in an interview with India Today, Salman responded to rumors about his late arrivals on set. The Tiger 3 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. Produced under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson, Sikandar marked AR Murugadoss' theatrical return to Bollywood after a nine-year hiatus. The director had earlier helmed three Hindi films: Ghajini, Akira, and Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty. "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
AR Murugadoss Blames Himself For Salman Khan's Sikandar Failure: 'Couldn't Pull It Off Like Ghajini'
Last Updated: AR Murugadoss admits Salman Khan's Sikandar failed due to poor execution, reveals why Ghajini worked, and shares insights on the film's emotional story and missed potential. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's much-hyped comeback film Sikandar hit the screens two years after Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, only to underwhelm at the box office despite its mammoth scale and expectations. Now, director AR Murugadoss has openly taken responsibility for the film's underperformance, admitting in an interview with Valaipechu Voice that he failed to execute the story the way he had envisioned. 'The base story was very emotional," Murugadoss explained. 'It's about a king who doesn't truly understand his wife. Many of us are like that — whether it's with our mother, wife, or friends, we don't value relationships until they're gone. In the film, after the king loses his wife, her organs are donated to three people. He then seeks them out to fulfil what he couldn't do for her. In the process, he befriends an entire village. The story had heart, but I couldn't execute it well." The director also drew a comparison between Sikandar and his earlier blockbuster Ghajini, confessing why one worked while the other faltered. 'I could pull off Ghajini because it was a remake, something I had already done before. With Sikandar, being an original, I lacked the same command. I'm not saying I won't return to Hindi cinema — I definitely will if I find my comfort zone. But when audiences don't connect with my vision, it affects me deeply." Murugadoss' Ghajini (2008), starring Aamir Khan, Asin and Jiah Khan, was a historic hit, earning ₹194.10 crore worldwide against a modest budget of ₹52 crore. By contrast, Sikandar — despite Salman Khan in the lead, Rashmika Mandanna as his wife Saishri, and Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, Prateik Babbar, and Sharman Joshi in pivotal roles — fell short. Mounted on a ₹200 crore budget, it managed to collect only ₹184.6 crore worldwide. The film follows Sanjay Rajkot, aka Sikandar, who embarks on a mission to protect three strangers who receive organ donations from his late wife, all while battling a powerful politician. While the concept was ambitious and layered, critics panned the film for its flat writing and lacklustre execution, calling it an opportunity lost despite a stellar cast and grand production. view comments First Published: August 17, 2025, 18:31 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
AR Murugadoss says Salman Khan's Sikandar failed as he couldn't execute it well: ‘I could pull off Ghajini because…'
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan returned to the big screen with Sikandar, two years after the debacle of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Despite sky-high expectations, the film failed to strike a chord with audiences. Now, in an interview with Valaipechu Voice, director AR Murugadoss has admitted responsibility for the underperformance, confessing that he was unable to execute the film the way he had intended. AR Murugadoss reflects on Sikandar's box office failure. AR Murugadoss on Sikandar's box office failure AR Murugadoss explained that Sikandar's failure lay in its execution. He said, '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. In the film, when the king loses his wife, her organs are donated to three different people. He then seeks them out, trying to fulfil the things he couldn't do for her. In the process, he befriends an entire village. The story was emotional, but I couldn't execute it well.' He also compared Sikandar with Ghajini and reflected on why the latter had succeeded while Salman's film failed. He said, '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'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.' In 2008, AR Murugadoss made his Bollywood debut with Ghajini, a remake of his own Tamil film of the same name. Starring Aamir Khan, Asin Thottumkal, Jiah Khan and Pradeep Rawat, the thriller was a massive blockbuster, earning ₹194.10 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹52 crore. About Sikandar The film tells the story of Rajkot's king, Sanjay Rajkot (Salman Khan), also known as Sikandar. His wife, Saishri (Rashmika Mandanna), is his pillar of strength, secretly shielding him from danger. After her death, he embarks on a mission to protect three individuals in Mumbai who have received organ donations from his late wife, while also facing threats from a vengeful politician. Despite featuring Sathyaraj, Kajal Aggarwal, Prateik Babbar and Sharman Joshi in key roles, the film was criticised for its flat storyline and lacklustre performances. Made on a budget of ₹200 crore, Sikandar managed to earn only ₹184.6 crore worldwide.
