Mukesh Khanna slams Ekta Kapoor for "murdering" Mahabharata
Mukesh Khanna, best known for playing Bhishma in BR Chopra's Mahabharat and superhero Shaktimaan in the 1980s and 90s, slammed movie producer Ekta Kapoor for her 2008 television rendition of the Hindu epic. Khanna, who is back on TV with reruns of the two classic shows, said he is mulling a modern remake of superhero series Shaktimaan but doesn't want to murder it like "Ekta murdered Mahabharata".
Ekta put a tattoo on Draupadi's shoulder: Khanna
Speaking of the rebooted Shaktimaan, Khanna told Mumbai Mirror that it "cannot be the way Ekta Kapoor made Mahabharata by putting a tattoo on Draupadi's shoulder." For the unversed, Ekta produced Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki, a widely criticized modern-day version of the Mahabharata. Khanna added, "Sanskriti kabhi modern nahi ho sakti... Jis din Sanskriti ko modern karoge, khatam ho jayegi."
Who gave them right to slaughter an epic, asked Khanna
Khanna went on to add, "If the serial's name would have been 'Kyunki Greek Bhi Kabhi Hindustani The', then I would have accepted it." "Who has given them the right to slaughter an epic?" the veteran questioned. Saying that Ekta's show was misleading, Khanna added, "They tried to be smarter than Vyas muni (Ved Vyasa who wrote Mahabharata) to which I have an objection."
Khanna also criticized new TV content
Khanna also said that today's TV shows are a "derailment of content." Comparing current Indian shows with old ones like Dekh Bhai Dekh and Buniyaad, Khanna noted that today's shows do not have any social responsibility and their sole aim is to mint money.
Khanna to soon bring back new version of 'Shaktimaan'
Khanna also revealed that he will soon bring back Shaktimaan to TV in a new form. He said he has a "deal with someone" and they are currently working on the show's casting. However, Khanna noted that big stars like SRK and Akshay Kumar would not fit in the superhero's role as they have already carved a certain image for themselves.
Tiger Shroff doesn't have 'spiritual face' to play the superhero
Khanna further pointed out that while someone had suggested Tiger Shroff's name for the role of the superhero, he feels that the actor does not have the "spiritual face" needed to play the iconic character. He said, "It is not the action that made Shaktimaan popular. It was because of his superpowers, messages and values of life."
