Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna ruled the small screen in the 1990s with his iconic superhero role in Shaktimaan. So, when it was announced that the cult show would get a big-screen adaptation, fans were naturally excited. However, the film’s casting is still under discussion, and reports suggest that the studio is keen on having Ranveer Singh as the lead. But Khanna has been vocal about not seeing Ranveer as the right choice.‘He can play the villain, not Shaktimaan’In a recent interview with Filmygyan, Mukesh Khanna addressed a fan who suggested that he should let Ranveer Singh take on the superhero’s mantle. The veteran actor admitted to liking Ranveer’s energy and talent but clarified that he doesn’t see him as Shaktimaan.“You can’t change my mind. You like Ranveer Singh, and I like him too. We’ve sat and talked for three hours, and he’s a very energetic actor. But I have openly said to his face, you can play Tamraj Kilvish (the story’s villain). His face has a mischievous positivity. This actor — if you tell him to play Shaktimaan, you might enjoy it because he makes you dance, but you need someone mature enough to play Shaktimaan,” Khanna said.
‘I need the right face, not just an actor’Khanna further explained that an actor’s real-life image influences their reel-life portrayal. He said, “Maine kaha dekho, mereko Shaktimaan ke liye actor nahi chahiye, face bhi chahiye. Kahin na kahin real-life mein agar aapki image galat hai, toh woh beech mein aati hai. Kayi log mujhe Ranveer Singh ke liye bolte hai ki arrey sahab yeh nashedi ko Shaktimaan mat banana, humare bachpan ki yaadien khatam ho jaayengi” (I said, look, I don’t just need an actor for Shaktimaan, I also need the right face. In some way, if your real-life image is negative, it comes in the way. Many people tell me about Ranveer Singh, “Sir, don’t make this addict Shaktimaan, our childhood memories will be ruined).”Shaktimaan aired on Doordarshan from 1997 to 2005, with Mukesh Khanna playing the dual role of Shaktimaan and his alter ego Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri, a bumbling photojournalist. The show became a cultural phenomenon, and its upcoming cinematic adaptation is among the most anticipated projects in Bollywood.
