Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has admitted that rejecting Ranveer Singh for the role of Shaktimaan may have been a commercially unwise decision, saying he turned down a second cheque worth crores because he did not want the character’s legacy compromised.
In a recent podcast with Subhojit Ghosh, Khanna said Ranveer had approached him about playing the iconic superhero and spent nearly three hours trying to convince him. Khanna said he found Ranveer extremely energetic and praised him as a talented actor, but maintained that he did not see him as the right fit for Shaktimaan.
“Ranveer Singh can play Dhurandhar, Gully Boy, Khilji but not Shaktimaan,” Khanna said, adding that the character required a “very positive” image and face, which he felt Ranveer did not have. He clarified that his comments were not a reflection of Ranveer’s acting ability.
Khanna said he had held back a cheque worth crores after deciding against proceeding with the project. He recalled that people in his office had advised him to accept the money and deal with the disagreement later, but he refused.
“I have held back a cheque worth crores, not lakhs, crores,” he said, adding that he had received the first cheque but stopped the second one.
Khanna said he had agreed that the makers could make Shaktimaan only after consulting him, but objected when they told him they would consult him while retaining the right to proceed independently. He said he was concerned that the filmmakers could eventually take the character in a direction he did not approve of, including depicting Shaktimaan in situations such as dancing in a disco.
He acknowledged that his decision could be considered “commercially stupid” but said money did not take precedence over his principles and his responsibility towards the character.
Khanna also said he believed Ranveer could be better suited to playing the villain Kilvish. He referred to Ranveer’s performances in Dhurandhar, Gully Boy and Padmaavat, saying the actor had demonstrated the ability to portray different kinds of characters.
The film adaptation of Shaktimaan was announced by Sony Pictures in 2022 as a planned trilogy in collaboration with Brewing Thoughts Private Limited and Khanna’s Bheeshm International. Ranveer’s casting has been widely reported and discussed, although Khanna has repeatedly expressed reservations about him playing the titular character.
Khanna previously said that Ranveer had visited his office and waited for three hours because he wanted Khanna’s approval to play Shaktimaan. He had described Ranveer as a “terrific actor” with tremendous energy while maintaining that he had the final say over who could play the character.
The Shaktimaan film project was announced as a modern big-screen adaptation of the superhero character, who was played by Khanna in the popular television series that ran in the 1990s and early 2000s.