‘Shaktiman’: Mukesh Khanna on Ranveer Singh as lead; says ‘I ..

Move over Captain America, Hulk, and Thor — make way for India’s first true superhero, who wore khadi, not capes, because cultural identity cannot be stitched into spandex. For every ‘90s kid, Shaktimaan, brought to life by veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, was more than a TV character. He was everything you aspired to be: a moral compass wrapped in superhuman strength. So when whispers of a big-screen revival became an official announcement, nostalgia soared to heroic heights.

That was years ago, yet the project remains stuck in a stalemate. The film rights were handed over to a studio for seven years, but casting is still unresolved due to creative disagreements between Mukesh Khanna and the producers. While Khanna ensured the contract preserved Shaktimaan’s values, he never secured formal approval rights over the lead actor — something he now regrets and is fighting to change.

For Khanna, the role demands integrity above all else. “You cannot show Raavan in the role of Ram,” he argues, stressing that Shaktimaan’s portrayal must remain consistent with its original spirit.

Rumours of Ranveer Singh donning the iconic suit have swirled for years. Khanna readily praises Ranveer as an actor and human being, even recalling a cordial three-hour meeting with him, but he firmly denies ever approving him for the role. Reports suggesting otherwise, he says, were simply untrue.

Time has passed, and patience has worn thin. Khanna has now declared “it’s a war” and is prepared to pursue legal action if necessary. Until the disputes are resolved, the nation’s most beloved superhero remains in waiting — cape-less, but certainly not powerless.
**This news was published on Times of India on 12th August, 2025.

 

 

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