Sikandar’s teaser delay: The UNTOLD story on how Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala prioritized respect over celebration on his birthday amid national mourning

On December 26 evening, Salman Khan unveiled a stunning poster of his much-awaited film Sikandar and reiterated that the teaser would be released a day later on Friday, December 27. The date was perfect as it coincided with the superstar's birthday. Fans waited with bated breath for the teaser to be released digitally at 11:07 am on December 27. But a few hours later, the doctor passed away. Following Manmohan Singh's sudden statement, Sikandar's team postponed the release of the teaser by 24 hours. While fans are expected to be upset by the delay, industry insiders have praised Salman Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala for the move. 

A source told Bollywood Hungama, "Salman Khan found out about Manmohan Singh's death on Thursday night while he was shooting for Bigg Boss 18." He spoke to Sajid Nadiadwala over the phone and they both quickly decided that it would not be appropriate to release the teaser at a time when the country is mourning the death of the former Prime Minister of India." 

Another industry source said, "Salman Khan knew that December 27th means a lot to his fans. The commercial launch will be a double joy for them. But Salman is a man with a heart of gold. He knew he had to do the right thing. Sajid Nadiadwala agreed and was happy that he and the star were on the same page. Both parties are hopeful that fans are looking forward to something special and that the release of the teaser tomorrow will help them forget the pain of the delay." 

Sikandar is directed by A.R. Murugadoss of Ghajini (2008) fame and also stars Rashmika Mandanna. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on Eid 2025.