Rashmika Mandanna Says Sikandar Script Changed Midway, Sparking Fresh Online Debate

Actor Rashmika Mandanna has opened up about her experience working on the action drama Sikandar, saying that the film’s story was significantly altered during the course of production from what she originally heard during the script narration. In a recent interview with a Telugu journalist, she said that while she was initially drawn to the script she was given, the actual narrative that reached audiences differed quite a bit by the time the film was completed.

Mandanna explained that such changes can happen in filmmaking, as multiple elements like performance choices, editing decisions and even shifts in release plans can cause a script to evolve from its initial version. She said that the story she had been told during the early stages was compelling, but that many aspects changed as the project progressed, ultimately altering how the film played out on screen.

Sikandar, which starred Rashmika Mandanna opposite Salman Khan and was directed by AR Murugadoss, was released in theatres in March 2025 during the Eid period but failed to connect with audiences in the way many had expected. Despite featuring one of Hindi cinema’s biggest stars, the film’s box-office returns were below projections, and reviews frequently pointed to a weak narrative and a lack of on-screen chemistry between the leads.