Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, who once publicly opposed Ranveer Singh being cast as Shaktimaan, has now lauded the actor’s performance in Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster spy thriller Dhurandhar. In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Khanna offered generous praise for Ranveer’s screen presence, energy, and intensity, calling his work in the film “kamaal”.
Addressing the long-standing Shaktimaan controversy head-on, Khanna acknowledged the irony of the situation. He clarified that while he had vetoed Ranveer for the iconic superhero role, he has never doubted the actor’s talent. “People will say I rejected him for Shaktimaan. Yes, I did. But I have always said that Ranveer Singh is a good actor,” Khanna remarked, setting the record straight.
He went on to highlight what stood out to him in Dhurandhar. According to Khanna, Ranveer brings remarkable energy and commitment to the role. He specifically praised the actor’s intensity, brooding eyes, and the emotional flow of his performance, noting that there is a strong sense of sincerity and continuity in the way Ranveer inhabits his character throughout the film.
The comments mark a notable shift in tone from Khanna, whose earlier objections to Ranveer playing Shaktimaan had sparked widespread debate. At the time, Khanna had cited the actor’s flamboyant off-screen image as a reason for feeling he was unsuited to portray the disciplined, morally upright superhero he had made famous in the 1990s television series.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar continues its impressive run at the box office. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film features an ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, and others. Ranveer’s central performance has been widely credited as one of the key reasons behind the film’s massive success, with global earnings nearing ₹800 crore.
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