The making of Sikandar was far from easy for Salman Khan. While filming the action entertainer, the Bollywood superstar was reportedly dealing with one of the most difficult phases of his personal and professional life.
Following the tragic murder of his close friend and veteran politician Baba Siddique in October 2024, Salman also faced increased security concerns. At the same time, he was recovering from a painful rib injury that affected his mobility throughout the shoot.
Although Salman had previously spoken about working through the injury, actor Vishal Vashishtha, who shared screen space with him in Sikandar, has now revealed what he witnessed on the sets.
Vishal Vashishtha Praises Salman’s Dedication
In an interview with Free Press Journal, Vishal said Salman continued shooting despite dealing with emotional trauma and severe physical discomfort.
According to him, the difficult circumstances were evident to everyone working on the film.
“We were shooting Sikandar in very tough circumstances, especially for Salman sir. That wasn’t a made-up story; it was real. He was mentally and emotionally drained, and physically he was going through a lot,” Vishal said.
He added that the actor remained committed to his work even when performing simple movements became difficult.
Physiotherapy Between Every Shoot
Vishal recalled that Salman would complete a scene and immediately return for physiotherapy before continuing with the next shot.
He explained that the treatment was necessary because Salman had to stay physically active for the film’s demanding action sequences.
“He would walk slowly and somehow finish the scene. The moment the director called ‘cut’, he would go back and get physiotherapy. He needed to stay mobile because he had to perform action sequences,” Vishal revealed.
The actor said Salman’s determination left a lasting impression on him.
“I can’t even imagine everything he was dealing with in his personal life, but he still came to work every day. He was in pain, yet he kept going. That is something I will always remember,” he added.
Delays on Set Had a Genuine Reason
Director AR Murugadoss had earlier acknowledged that Sikandar faced scheduling challenges during production. Reports had suggested that Salman often arrived on set later than planned, forcing the crew to adjust shooting schedules.
Vishal addressed those reports and said the delays were directly connected to Salman’s health.
“We also waited, sometimes in the vanity van and sometimes on the set. But I knew something was wrong. He wasn’t sitting in the van doing nothing,” he said.
According to Vishal, Salman struggled even with routine movements during the early stages of filming.
“Getting up from a chair and sitting down was very difficult for him. By the final days of the shoot, he had recovered a little. That’s why the action sequences were scheduled later. He needed time to heal,” he explained.
Living Under Constant Security Was Also Difficult
Apart from the physical injury, Salman was also living under heightened security following threats and the murder of Baba Siddique.
Vishal said the constant presence of security personnel made everyday life challenging for the superstar.
“You have to give him the benefit of the doubt because it was clearly a struggle. With everything happening around him, it couldn’t have been easy. Just dealing with security personnel all the time is suffocating. It was a very difficult situation,” he said.
A Difficult Chapter Behind Sikandar
Vishal Vashishtha’s comments offer a rare look at the challenges faced during the making of Sikandar. Despite coping with personal grief, a painful injury, and constant security concerns, Salman Khan continued filming and completed his professional commitments.
His co-star believes that dedication and perseverance defined Salman’s approach during one of the toughest periods of his career.