‘Shaktimaan ki zarurat hai aaj ke bachon ko,’ says Mukesh Khanna; reveals he made a mistake while signing agreement with Sony: ‘Casting mein atak gaya’

However, Mukesh will not have the final say in the casting of Shaktimaan for the movie. “However, I couldn’t get it in written that the actor would be cast with my permission. They have a point now ki hum aapse poochenge zaroor, lekin final call humaari hogi. Yahin mein atak gaya. If I was told this earlier, I wouldn’t have signed it. I got to know this through someone,” he said.

The actor added, “They showed me the agreement, so I told them that if you ask for my approval, but won’t listen to me, then what is the point of asking me. Poochoge mujhko, karoge apni, fir toh aage jaake aap kuch bhi karoge. If Shaktimaan is dancing in a disco and I say that I don’t like it, you would still do what you want.”

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The pre-production of Shaktimaan has been stalled on ‘technical grounds,’ while fans eagerly await the official announcement. “Maine atka dia fir, that either you chance the clause or ask. Without asking me, you can’t deflect from Shaktimaan. Ya toh casting aisi rakho, abhi toh casting mein atak gaya hai maamla, poori film banaani bachi hai. I know the story that they want to make, I will be there to delegate. Everything is stuck on technical grounds. Public is still waiting eagerly for the announcement,” he said.

The actor continued, “This is not a small film, there will be three movies with a budget of Rs 150-200 crores each. Who is being a fool in this situation, I don’t know whether it’s me or them. I won’t change my stand. Aap ram ke role mein raavana dikhne wale ko nahi daal sakte. The film will come soon and it should. Shaktimaan ki zarurat hai aaj ke bachon ko. Even I don’t know when he will come. I am not even supposed to talk to anyone about this.”

Mukesh Khanna is even prepared to take Sony to court to have his way with Shaktimaan: The Film. “It’s a war now. If you won’t listen to me, then go and make Shaktimaan without me. I cannot stop them because I haven’t given it in written. I am a man of principle, I will fight till I can fight. I will take them to court if required. Main Shaktimaan ke gaane aur music release nahi karsakta, because I sold them to someone by mistake.”

When asked about his disapproval of Ranveer Singh as Shaktimaan, he replied, “Ranveer came to my office, sat with me for three hours. Very nice meeting, very nice actor and human being. Itna interested tha ki teen ghante tak convince karke ki koshish ki. Then, I asked if can I say something, he said, ‘No, give me 15 minutes more.’ Ultimately, I always felt that he can’t be cast in Shaktimaan’s role. I am still rigid on that point.”