Mukesh Khanna Reveals Why He Rejected Ranveer Singh For Shaktimaan Role Despite Crores

Actor Mukesh Khanna has acknowledged that his continued opposition to casting Ranveer Singh as Shaktimaan may be “commercially stupid”, while maintaining that he does not believe the actor is the right choice for the iconic superhero. Khanna, who played Shaktimaan in the popular television series, said preserving the character’s legacy remains more important to him than potential financial gains. The big-screen adaptation of Shaktimaan was announced in 2022, and Ranveer Singh has since been widely linked to the role. However, Khanna has repeatedly expressed reservations about the casting. In a recent podcast conversation with Subhojit Ghosh, he reiterated his view that Singh would be better suited to portraying the antagonist Kelvish rather than the titular superhero.

Khanna also acknowledged the commercial implications of rejecting a major star for a high-profile franchise. He indicated that turning down Ranveer for the role could be considered a poor business decision, particularly given the scale of money involved in a project of this nature. However, he suggested that financial considerations were not enough to convince him to compromise on his vision for the character. The veteran actor claimed that he had effectively held back opportunities worth crores by refusing to accept casting decisions or proposals that he believed did not serve Shaktimaan’s legacy. His comments underline the importance he places on protecting the identity and image of the superhero, a character that became closely associated with him during the television show's run.

Khanna said Ranveer may be more appropriate for the role of Kelvish, the villain in the planned film adaptation. His assessment reflects his broader argument that the actor’s screen persona and performance style may be better suited to an antagonist than to the morally upright superhero he helped popularise. The proposed Shaktimaan film has remained a subject of considerable interest since its announcement, largely because of the character’s popularity among Indian television audiences. The original series turned Shaktimaan into one of the country’s best-known fictional superheroes, with Khanna becoming strongly identified with the role. Ranveer’s reported association with the project has added further attention to the planned adaptation.

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While the actor has been widely rumoured to play Shaktimaan, Khanna’s repeated objections have kept the casting debate in the spotlight. His latest remarks suggest that his reservations are rooted in concerns about how the character would be represented on the big screen. Khanna’s position also highlights the challenge of adapting a beloved legacy character for contemporary cinema. A modern film version would need to appeal to a new generation while retaining elements that made the original character popular. For Khanna, maintaining the character’s established values and identity appears to outweigh the commercial advantages of attaching a major Bollywood star to the role. At the same time, his admission that rejecting Ranveer could be “commercially stupid” indicates that he recognises the potential financial value of the actor’s involvement. A prominent star could provide a project with greater visibility, audience interest and commercial reach.

Khanna, however, has made clear that those considerations do not determine his personal judgment about who should portray Shaktimaan. The debate over the film's casting therefore remains tied to a larger question about how iconic Indian characters should be handled in new adaptations. While commercial considerations are central to large-scale film projects, Khanna has argued that the character’s legacy should not be compromised for financial or promotional benefits. For now, Khanna continues to favour Ranveer Singh as a potential Kelvish rather than Shaktimaan. His latest comments acknowledge the commercial cost of that position, but also reinforce his longstanding belief that the superhero’s portrayal should be guided primarily by the character’s legacy rather than the financial appeal of a particular casting choice.

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