Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna who delivered stellar performances as Bhishma Pitamah in B.R. Chopra’s magnum opus Mahabharat and Shaktimaan, a superhero series for kids, has expressed deep shock at the untimely demise of M.S. Dhoni- The Untold Story actor Sushant Singh Rajput who he felt was a good combination of talent and looks.
“All that glitters is not gold. It is highly advisable for newcomers to stay connected to their families. It (family) is a big support system. They must keep them updated about their struggles whether about money, work or personal life. The new-found friendships in big cities cannot replace family,” says the actor.
Mukesh Khanna in an exclusive conversation with Top Lead India also talked about his learning days at FTII, Mahabharat, vulgarity in OTT platforms and insecurity in entertainment world.
‘Acting was a discovery for me’
It was actor Mukesh Khanna’s elder brother who pushed him into the world of acting. A BSc. Graduate, Khanna joined law college, did intercollegiate plays for 3 years to relish the stage experience to its fullest.
“Acting was a discovery for me. It was at law college, when I realised about my passion for acting and eventually moved to FTII Pune to sharpen my acting chops,” the actor reveals.
Recalling his learnings at FTII Pune, the actor says that initially National School of Drama (NSD) students went through extreme struggle. “It was Doordarshan that provided them work. I still remember how two groups were formed-NSD versus FTII like BJP and Congress.”
The talented actor might not have pursued theatre professionally but holds stage performers in high regard. “It is important to know that quality stage work might not make you a good film actor and vice-versa. TV, theatre and films require different expertise. A boy next door might feature in TV shows but extraordinary looks plus talent make way for films,” opines he.
Khanna believes that idolising someone could add unfair amount of pressure on a performer. “There is no harm in admiring someone’s work but idolising could create hesitation when sharing the same frame. It becomes unavoidable while crossing each other’s path,” feels the actor.
“A balanced approach is a must. I acknowledge Dilip Sahab’s work and offered full respect while working with him but scolded him too for a film scene. An honest learning and sincerity towards work better every performance,” the actor adds who has worked with Dilip Kumar in films like Saudagar among others.
On playing Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat
Mahabharat is still remembered for its gripping storyline and impactful dialogues. The classic epic did not fail to entice the audiences even when it got re-telecast during the lockdown.
Actor Mukesh Khanna credits writer par excellence Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza for the stupendous success of the mythological show. Decoding his camaraderie with the skilled writer, the actor says, “Acting is a give and take medium. A writer writes and an actor reciprocates. Whatever I am today is because of the effective dialogues penned by Dr. Raza.”
Mukesh Khanna and Dr. Raza found a fan in each other. “Dr. Sa’ab often heaped praises on me by saying that ‘Mukesh, ‘tum achcha karte ho’ and I used to reply by saying that Dr. Sa’ab ‘aap achcha likhte ho’.”
“Once Dr. Raza mentioned that Mukesh yahan log 30 per cent credit bhi nahin dete but you have given me much more than that. Your acting compliments and motivates the writer in me,” reminisces the actor.
Bhishma vs Arjuna
Actor Mukesh Khanna mentions with pride how Dr. Raza once told him that thoughts flow freely when he pens down lines for Bhishma.
“Once actor Feroz Khan who played Arjuna objected that why Dr. Sa’ab, you write 2 to 3 paragraphs for Bhishma and just 1 or 2 lines for Arjuna’s character? To which he replied him quickly, “Arjuna….’tum kyun bologe’? ‘Tum man of action ho aur woh pitamah hai’,” quips Khanna.
On retakes
The actor has no qualms in giving retakes and feels they don’t define your acting skills.
“Whether you are a stage actor, TV or filmi ‘jagat ka sitara’, one must know that retakes don’t mean bad acting skills, it transforms you for the better. There may be times when you give a shot in one take or would even require 19 takes to deliver the best of your abilities.”
Repo with director Ravi Chopra
“I was already a film actor but it was Chopra Sa’ab’s Mahabharat that brought me into limelight. Despite featuring in flicks which did not do well on the box-office, Chopra Sa’ab trusted me completely. He had no qualms when I raised both my hands while shooting for crucial ‘Pitamah’s pledge scene’ instead of one. A character’s discovery or portrayal is a director, writer and an actor’s jugalbandi,” shares the actor.
On mouthing Mahabharat dialogues
Khanna who is still remembered for mouthing heavy-duty dialogues with ease, credits his voice training for the required effect. He feels voice does the 65 per cent of the actor’s job. The actor recalls the days spent at British library on learning about voice modulation.
“Voice exercises are a must to fine tune your voice. Like Hollywood, actors, here (medium may vary) must work on their voices. It would help them to perform better. It is disheartening to see how actors maintain the same voice tone for most of the dialogues.”
Shaktiman or Bhishma Pitamah: Which character is more special?
Mukesh Khanna cannot choose his personal favourite among Mahabharat and Shatiman as both these shows are equally close to him. The actor-producer says both roles are amar (eternal) and incomparable. “Mahabharat gave me everything and I produced Shaktimaan for children. Shaktimaan is more realistic and valuable whereas Bhishma is more about ‘aayushman bhav’, ‘vijaybhav’ etc. Once I blessed late President Abdul Kalam with ‘aayushmaan bhav’ during an interaction,” recalls the actor happily.
“Shaktimaan is relevant to present times. I can easily educate kids about corona, morality or goodness. Any NGO would give numerous messages through Shaktimaan. But as an actor, Mahabharat was more difficult than Shaktimaan,” he adds.
On his bonding with co-actors
“We all bonded well and became one family. We shot for 2 years. Unlike present times, we used to be present on the set from morning till night. These days actors have so many engagements to meet but our heart and soul was for and in Mahabharat only. Those were certainly the unforgettable and happy times of shooting,” says the actor.
On re-telecast of shows
“It is like double sundae ice-cream for me. Without failing, I watched each and every episode. It is highly thoughtful on the part of Doordarshan to re-telecast all the shows-Ramayana, Mahabharat, Shaktimaan during the lockdown,” says the actor.
On corona and plight of workers
Despite hailing govt and police for their courageous efforts in dealing with covid-19 pandemic, actor Mukesh Khanna feels that social distancing is still not being followed in Mumbai.
Khanna who is a BJP supporter confirms that through his YouTube channel, he requested PM Modi to call Military to solve the problem of migrant workers. “Police alone can’t handle it. A stringent action is required,” he says.
On resuming shoots
‘Jaan hai toh jahaan hai’. The actor opines that we are going through a very sensitive time and a laidback attitude could take a toll. “We all need to be extra vigilant. Rest everything will fall into place,” he said.
On OTT platforms
A few days back, the actor made headlines when he slammed TV czarina Ekta Kapoor for disrespecting Indian Army in web show XXX: Uncensored 2. Khanna also slams OTT platforms for showing vulgar content.
“OTT platforms are ‘ashleelata’ ka platform. What’s OTT- Over-The-Top? Most of the content is going over the top due to its free accessibility. Why is there no censorship for this? Such platforms are ruining the future of kids. Who will do the moral policing,” asks the actor.
Mukesh Khanna not only finds OTT platforms more dangerous than TikTok but also expects a ban on explicit content which is unhealthy.
“Anything can’t be telecast and shown in the form of infotainment,” adds the actor.
The actor clarifies that he is not Anna Hazare who would go on fast but believes in speaking his heart out and doesn’t hesitate to share his views on his You Tube channel on education, moral or social issues. He considers him a catalyst who can generate ideas.
“I have already put nearly 180 videos on my channel. I never refrain from speaking what catches my attention. People often ask me why can’t I become the PM or education minister? I sincerely wish education or medical facilities should become free,” says the actor.
What’s keeping him busy during the lockdown period? The actor laughs and says “Nearly 60 per cent of the time gets consumed by journalists, radio channels,” he says.
The actor has been working on a children’s book since last 10 years and loves spending time with family. “The book is of the kids, for the kids and by the kids and most likely to be titled as ‘Shareer ek mandir hai, ussey pehchaano’. At times, I too feel 24 hours are not enough. There is so much left to do,” says the actor.