Mukesh Khanna says Ranveer Singh doesn’t have the ‘correct face’ to play Shaktimaan: ‘He’s a good actor but I’m not convinced with his appearance’

Mukesh Khanna has consistently dismissed rumors of Ranveer Singh playing Shaktimaan and, in a recent interview, voiced strong reservations about Ranveer’s suitability for the role.

By: Entertainment Desk
Chennai | November 14, 2024 07:19 PM IST

3 min read

Mukesh Khanna opened up on meeting Ranveer Singh for Shaktimaan sequel.

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, widely recognized for his portrayal of Shaktimaan, recently announced that the iconic superhero character will be returning to the screen. Ranveer has been linked to the role for an upcoming feature film reboot. Khanna, however, has repeatedly dismissed these claims and, in a recent interaction, expressed strong reservations about Ranveer’s suitability for the part.

In a conversation with Entertainment Live, Khanna asserted that he is confident no one else could embody Shaktimaan the way he does. “I was having a conversation with Sony, and I told them I don’t need to be Shaktimaan; I am Shaktimaan,” he said. “I’m not here to prove I’m better than Ranveer Singh. I believe the new Shaktimaan wouldn’t connect with kids the way I do. I have the branding of this character for 30 years. I told the channel I’m not saying I want to be Shaktimaan—I am Shaktimaan, and this film can’t happen without me. People are saying I’ve got work now, but what does that mean? This is my production,” Khanna declared.

Khanna also expressed frustration with Sony for allowing the rumors about Ranveer’s casting to spread, which forced him to publicly address the matter. “I’m bound by a contract with Sony International not to discuss details but still I talked because Sony created this thing everywhere that this boy is playing Shaktimaan, that boy is playing Shaktimaan. Everybody started believing that he is playing the role and they didn’t refute it. I thought something is cooking. I stood up and declared that I haven’t agreed to him playing Shaktimaan,” he shared.

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Speaking about why he thinks Ranveer isn’t fir for the role, he said, “An actor can do all kinds of roles but Shaktimaan isn’t just any role. It isn’t just enough to be an actor to play Shaktimaan. You need to have the correct face. I am stuck at his (Ranveer’s) face, I am not stuck at his talent. People remind me that he has done so much work. He has done Khilji. I told them, ‘He is a good actor but I am not convinced with his face and his appearance.”