1 october 2024 : Earlier this year, there was speculation about actor Ranveer Singh landing the lead role in the film adaptation of Shaktimaan, stirring mixed reactions online. Mukesh Khanna, who originally portrayed Shaktimaan in the iconic superhero TV series, expressed his disapproval of the casting choice. He criticized Ranveer for his controversial nude photo shoot, asserting that an actor with such an “image” should not play the beloved superhero.
In a recent interview, Mukesh revealed that Ranveer had met with him and spent three hours trying to convince him to allow him to take on the role. Speaking to Bollywood Thikana, Mukesh stated, “That poor guy (Ranveer Singh) was sitting in front of me for three hours. But it doesn’t reflect on his face what it takes to play Shaktimaan. He looks fickle, as if he could con someone. But he is a terrific actor.” While he acknowledged Ranveer’s energy, Mukesh still did not support his casting as Shaktimaan.
It seems that many netizens share Mukesh’s viewpoint, as fans voiced their concerns on social media after a paparazzi page posted about the interview, urging Mukesh not to agree to Ranveer’s casting.
