Mukesh Khanna, renowned for his role as Shaktimaan and his candid opinions, has often sparked debates with his unfiltered statements.
One such instance occurred in 2020 during the controversy surrounding Akshay Kumar’s Laxmmi Bomb, which was later retitled Laxmii. The film faced backlash over allegations of hurting religious sentiments and promoting controversial themes like Love Jihad, drawing strong reactions from audiences and critics alike.
In an interview with Koimoi, Mukesh Khanna expressed his discontent with Bollywood’s increasing focus on commercialization, claiming it often comes at the expense of moral responsibility. Commenting on the Laxmii controversy, he said, “Humare yaha sab commercial ban gaye hai ki bas kamana hai, kamana hai. Aapki koi duty nahi hai? Public ko aapne bigada hai.” He criticized filmmakers for catering solely to public demand, comparing it to showing inappropriate content just to garner attention and profits.
Mukesh Khanna also questioned changes made to the original story from the Tamil film Kanchana, including the alteration of character names. He remarked on the implications of such changes, stating, “Yaha par hero ko kardiya hai Muslim, abhi padhne wale kuch aisa bolte hai ki kahi Love Jihad toh nahi fela rahe. Naam kyu change kiya warna?” He further insinuated that commercial interests and external influences played a role in the film’s narrative decisions.
The controversy surrounding Laxmii was fueled by its original title, Laxmmi Bomb, which many believed disrespected the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. Khanna’s remarks added another layer to the ongoing debate, highlighting concerns about Bollywood’s alleged insensitivity to cultural and social issues.
Meanwhile, Mukesh Khanna recently made headlines over reports that actor Ranveer Singh waited for hours to meet him about the role of Shaktimaan in a potential movie adaptation. While Mukesh Khanna praised Ranveer’s acting skills, he maintained that the actor was not suitable for the iconic role as ‘Shaktimaan’.
