Ranveer Singh can play Tamraj Kilvish but not Shaktimaan, says Mukesh Khanna: ‘My fans told me don’t let this addict play Shaktimaan’

‘I don’t just want an actor, I want the right face for Shaktimaan’

Mukesh further explained that his resistance is not just personal, but also influenced by his fans. “I don’t just want an actor, I want the right face for Shaktimaan. If your real-life image is not good, it comes in the way of the role. Several people have warned me against Ranveer Singh. They say, ‘Sir, please don’t let this addict play Shaktimaan, he will ruin our childhood.’”

A few years ago, reports of Shaktimaan being adapted into a feature film began circulating. Mukesh Khanna, who claims to hold the IPR for the character, admitted that he had given a studio the rights for seven years to make the film. Speaking to Galatta India, he explained: “The IPR is still mine, but we have given them rights for seven years to make a film. I made them write that they won’t change Shaktimaan’s values. But I regret not making them write that the actor would be cast with my permission. They said they’ll ask me, but the final call will be theirs.”

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Mukesh has also publicly voiced his reservations about Ranveer Singh after the actor’s much-talked-about nude photoshoot. In one of his YouTube videos, he recalled, “That photoshoot was the start of my aversion towards him. Ranveer told me he didn’t actually do it—that he was wearing underwear and later fired his promotional team. I believed him. But when I looked back, I remembered his statement to the media, where he said he was comfortable with it. I recall giving a statement: ‘You may be comfortable, but we aren’t.’”

As of now, while a Shaktimaan movie may still be in the pipeline, the question of who will don the superhero’s iconic costume remains a contentious issue.