Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, known for playing India’s OG superhero Shaktimaan, recently opened up about an “alleged” comment made by Amitabh Bachchan.
In a conversation on YouTube Hindi Rush, Mukesh Khanna revealed that a mutual friend overheard Big B accusing him of imitating the superstar’s style.
The actor said, “I starred in one advertisement. It was an ad where I put on perfume, and girls turned to look at me. A person told me he was present when this ad was being played in a theatre. He was Amitabh’s friend. And Amit ji [Amitabh Bachchan] has a certain style. If I were in his place, I might have said the same thing.
Mukesh Khanna added that the particular remark made a lasting impression on him.
“He told me that Amit ji [Amitabh Bachchan] saw the ad and said, ‘Saala copy karta hai [He’s copying me].’ You can call me self-respecting or stubborn, but I told that man, ‘Pagal hai tu, woh aisa bolege?’ [Are you mad? Do you think he’d say this?]’ But that sentence stayed in my mind,” the actor said.
Mukesh Khanna also talked about how this remark fueled media conjecture, with some even speculating that it destroyed his career. The actor vehemently refused these allegations, dismissing them as baseless.
He said, “We never worked together, but to say that Amitabh Bachchan finished my career is a nonsensical statement made by somebody.”
Mukesh Khanna made it clear that he has no animosity toward Amitabh Bachchan. Over the years, the two of them have met several times. While they exchanged pleasantries neither one of them ever addressed the alleged remark.
Talking about his career choices, the actor said, “I starred in a few films because I signed only a few films. Amitabh didn’t stop me from starring in Mahabharat or Shaktimaan.”
Mukesh Khanna rose to prominence with his role of Bhishma Pitamah in the television show Mahabharat. His role as Shaktimaan in the eponymous television series brought him unparalleled popularity among the masses. In addition to television, the actor has also been part of several Bollywood films including Rakhwala, Hamara Khandaan and Yalgaar.
