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

Indian Express

12 hours ago

For a while now, there have been reports about the revival of Shaktimaan—India's iconic superhero series that ruled TV screens in the late 90s and early 2000s. The role, immortalised by actor Mukesh Khanna, continues to hold nostalgic value for an entire generation. Recently, reports suggested that Bollywood star Ranveer Singh might be considered for the part. However, Mukesh has made it clear, once again, that he is firmly against the idea.
During an interaction with Filmygyan, a fan asked Mukesh Khanna to accept Ranveer Singh as the new Shaktimaan. To this, the veteran actor responded, 'You like Ranveer Singh, and I like him too. We've sat and talked for three hours—he's a very energetic actor. But I told him to his face: you can play Tamraj Kilvish. His face has a mischievous positivity. If you make him Shaktimaan, people may enjoy it because he makes you dance, but the role needs someone mature enough.'
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.'
Also Read | War 2 box office collection Day 3: Despite Coolie storm, Hrithik film touches Rs 150 crore mark; beats Salman's Sikandar
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.