It has been over two years since a movie adaptation of the much-loved Indian superhero Shaktimaan was announced. It was also reported that Ranveer Singh would step in as the superhero for the film version. However, actor Mukesh Khanna, who popularised the character with his portrayal on TV, publicly denied the idea of Singh playing the role. He said that he would not allow Singh to take on the part. On multiple occasions, Khanna has expressed his objection to Singh playing Shaktimaan. However, now, with Singh riding high on the success of his latest releases, Dhurandar Parts 1 and 2, Khanna has expressed his admiration for the actor.
Mukesh Khanna says he is losing crores over Shaktimaan casting
In a recent conversation with Zoom, Mukesh praised Ranveer’s versatility but also maintained his stance on the superhero film casting. “Although he is a terrific actor with great energy, he can do Dhurandhar, Gully Boy, and Khilji,” he said, referencing Ranveer’s wide-ranging performances. However, he said that playing Shaktimaan is not just about the acting ability but having the face for it. “You need not just the actor but also the face. A historical figure like Prithviraj Chauhan should look the part, which Akshay Kumar did not in the film despite the costume and wig. When I played historical characters, it used to take me 1.5 hours just to get ready, including wearing a seven-inch crown.”
Mukesh further acknowledged that his resistance may come at a personal cost, revealing that Sony Pictures is eager to move ahead with the project. “It is my loss. I am losing crores as Sony is ready to offer me that amount. But I said, ‘Wait, I don’t want this casting.’ They want a star, I don’t. If allowed, I would conduct nationwide auditions to find someone who truly embodies Shaktimaan- good-looking, simple, and kind. For me, no actor with an established image can become Shaktimaan.”
When Mukesh spoke about meeting Ranveer
In an earlier interview with Siddharth Kannan, Mukesh Khanna revealed that Ranveer Singh and he met to talk about the casting. “It was an arranged meeting organised by Sony, where Ranveer came to convince me that he could play Shaktimaan. This wasn’t the first time he showed interest.” Mukesh added that he had instead suggested Ranveer consider playing Tamraj Kilvish, the show’s iconic antagonist but the meeting ended with no result.
The veteran actor also claimed that producer Aditya Chopra had approached him years ago to acquire the rights to Shaktimaan. “Around that time, a photo of Ranveer Singh in a Shaktimaan costume surfaced online. I refused to give them the rights but proposed a collaboration instead. I didn’t want them to turn it into a disco drama.”