Rashmika Mandanna Breaks Silence on ‘Sikandar’ Flop, Says Script Changed Mid-Shoot

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has finally spoken out about the commercial failure of Sikandar, the much-hyped action drama starring Salman Khan, calling it a project that “changed direction midway” and lost its original narrative strength.

In a recent interaction with journalists, Rashmika revealed that the version of the script she initially agreed to was very different from what eventually reached the screen.

‘The Script I Heard Was Not the Film That Was Made’

Speaking candidly, Rashmika said that when she first signed Sikandar, the story had a strong emotional arc and a clearer character journey.

“When I heard the script, it was different. During the shoot, a lot of changes happened. The story shifted, scenes were altered, and the final narrative became something else,” she said.

The actor added that such changes are not uncommon in big-budget films but can sometimes dilute the emotional core of the story.

From Massive Hype to Box Office Disappointment

Released amid huge expectations, Sikandar was projected as one of the biggest Bollywood releases of 2025. With Salman Khan headlining the film and a large-scale action setup, trade analysts had predicted a strong opening.

However, the film failed to sustain momentum after its first weekend. Poor word-of-mouth, mixed reviews, and criticism of its screenplay reportedly hurt its box office performance, with collections falling short of the film’s production budget.

Rashmika on Commercial Failure: ‘It Hurts Everyone’

Rashmika acknowledged that a film’s failure impacts the entire team, not just the lead actors.

“When a film doesn’t work, it affects everyone — actors, technicians, producers. You invest time, emotion, and effort, so yes, it hurts,” she said.

Despite the setback, she maintained that every project is a learning experience and that actors must move forward rather than dwell on outcomes.