‘I Denied Him The Role Of Shaktimaan But…': Mukesh Khanna Praises Ranveer Singh In Dhurandhar

Mukesh Khanna, who rarely minces words, has come out strongly in support of Dhurandhar, the Ranveer Singh-led spy thriller that has already crossed Rs 500 crore at the Indian box office. In an unfiltered

YouTube review, the actor-producer didn’t just praise the film. He called it complete, commercial, and made for the masses. ‘Every Department Did Its Best’ In his video, Mukesh Khanna described Dhurandhar as a rare film where all elements come together cleanly. “Perfect film, commercial film and one that will hit the masses. Every department did their best, whether it was acting, directing, action, direction or writing. Everyone has given their best, so that you can call the film ‘Dhurandhar’ in every way.” The praise extended beyond the lead cast to director Aditya Dhar and the entire crew, with Khanna stressing that strong writing and vision were key to the film’s impact. Special Praise for Akshaye Khanna Among all performances, Mukesh Khanna reserved his strongest words for Akshaye Khanna, whose role has already become a talking point online. “You all know that the one actor who is being praised for his performance is Akshaye Khanna. He stars in very few films. He used to be a hero some time back. Some films worked while others didn’t, but he left his mark in each of them. In this film, he didn’t just leave his mark, he ate all the competition,” he remarked. Why Villains Often Steal the Show Drawing from cinema history, Khanna compared Akshaye’s impact to iconic antagonists of the past. “There are very few films where the villain is praised more than the hero,” he said, pointing out that even decades later, Gabbar Singh’s line “Kitne aadmi the” remains unforgettable. Ranveer Singh and the Shaktimaan Question Mukesh Khanna also addressed the long-standing debate around Ranveer Singh and the Shaktimaan reboot. While praising Singh’s work in Dhurandhar, he clarified his earlier stance. “Yes, I would like to praise this film’s hero, ‘Dhurandhar’, Ranveer Singh. You will say, ‘You didn’t let him play Shaktimaan’. I may have denied him the role of Shaktimaan, but he is a good actor. I always say this,” he said. On Ranveer’s Screen Presence Mukesh Khanna also praised Ranveer Singh’s physicality and intensity in the film. “He has great energy in this film, and his eyes are brooding because this man has come from India and has been planted in Pakistan. How he enters this world and becomes a gang member.” He added that the character arc was intentionally gradual. “The role of Dhurandhar that he was given had to see him grow little by little. I’m sure in the sequel, they will highlight his entire story.” Mukesh Khanna on Writing and His Own Legacy Reflecting on his career, Khanna stressed the importance of strong scripts. “I would never have become Shaktimaan if the writers and director did not give me such a vision or script,” he said. He also reiterated his return as the iconic superhero, saying, “I think personally too, in my mind, this costume has come from within me. I did well in Shatimaan because it came from within me. Acting is all about confidence. I forget about the camera when I am shooting. I am even happier than the others about becoming Shaktimaan again.I am carrying out my duty that I started in 1997 and which went on till 2005. I think that my work should reach the public in 2027 because today’s generation is running blindly. They have to be stopped and told to catch their breath.”