Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, best known for his iconic role as Bhishma in BR Chopra’s television series Mahabharat, has expressed his disapproval of the film Kalki 2898 AD for its portrayal of certain elements from the Hindu epic. In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, Khanna shared his thoughts on the movie, which has drawn significant inspiration from the Mahabharata.
Mukesh Khanna strongly criticises Kalki 2898 AD for twisting Mahabharat: “The liberties that you’ve taken are inexcusable”
Mukesh Khanna’s Concerns With Kalki 2898 AD
Khanna stated that while he appreciated the production values and overall execution of Kalki 2898 AD, he found some aspects of the film problematic and offensive. Specifically, he took issue with the filmmakers’ decision to alter key elements of the Mahabharata. “In the beginning, when Krishna curses Ashwatthama by removing his ‘mani’, this never happened. I want to ask the makers, how could you presume to know more than the Vyas muni?” Mukesh questioned. He claimed that it was Draupadi who instructed the removal of Ashwatthama’s ‘mani’, not Krishna.
He further elaborated on the inaccuracies by detailing the original story from the Mahabharata. Khanna highlighted the battle between Arjun and Ashwatthama and the role of Krishna in protecting Abhimanyu’s wife. He found it implausible that the film depicted Krishna commanding Ashwatthama to protect him in the future, which contradicts the traditional narrative.
Mukesh Khanna’s Call for Regulatory Committee
The veteran actor expressed that every Hindu should be offended by these changes, drawing parallels to the backlash against Prabhas’ previous film, Adipurush. He criticised the liberties taken by the filmmakers and urged for the establishment of a special committee under the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to oversee and approve projects with mythological connections at the script stage.
“The liberties that you’ve taken are inexcusable. We think that South filmmakers have more respect for our traditions, but what happened here?” he said. He suggested that such a committee would prevent the distortion of revered texts and ensure respectful adaptations.
Khanna also commented on the pacing of the film, noting that the first half was too slow. He suggested that the movie was designed to cater to Western sensibilities, which might not resonate with Indian audiences. “The level of intellect with which the film has been made is fine for Hollywood. People are more intelligent than us over there. Forgive me, but audiences in Odisha and Bihar are not going to understand this kind of filmmaking,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, the makers have not responded to Mukesh’s criticism, so far. Speaking of the film, it stars Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan. It was released on June 27.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Anil George praises Kalki 2898 AD makers for accommodating him in the same hotel as Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan; also says “Mujhe film ka A, B, C, D, kuchh nahin pata tha; I used to get my dialogues on the set. Main dara rehta tha”
More Pages: Kalki 2898 AD Box Office Collection
, Kalki 2898 AD Movie Review
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