Saw Kalki 2898 AD With My Staff And They Slept: Mukesh Khanna Clarifies He Didn't Insult People Of Bihar, Odisha In His Review
Mukesh Khanna of Shaktimaan fame faced some serious backlash over his review of Kalki 2898 AD where he made stereotypical comments, read to know below
Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna faced backlash after his review of Kalki 2898 AD, where he claimed the film was meant for "intelligent people in the West" and suggested that people from Odisha and Bihar would struggle to understand it. He has since clarified his comments, emphasizing that he did not intend to insult the intellect of people from these regions. Instead, he criticized the film for its complex first half and for taking creative liberties with the Mahabharata. Khanna explained that his comments were about the film's weaknesses, not the people. ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone On Kalki 2898 AD’s Positive Response: I’m Just A Bit Overwhelmed With The Reactions
In his social media clarification, Khanna acknowledged the misunderstanding and stressed his respect for the people of Odisha and Bihar, pointing out his visits to these regions for various events and campaigns. He reiterated that his review was focused on the film's flaws, particularly how the first half could be confusing to a general audience, including his own staff members from Bihar, some of whom fell asleep during the screening. Khanna's criticism was aimed at the film's narrative style and not at the intellectual capacity of the viewers. ALSO READ: Daddy-To-Be Ranveer Singh Praises His ‘Baby’ Deepika Padukone’s Performance In Kalki 2898 AD; Says, ‘You Elevate Every Moment With Your Grace’
Mujhe social media ke through pata chala hai ki Orissa aur Bihar wale ye samajh rahen hain ki maine Kalki film ko review karte waqt unki samajh ki burai ki hai. Ye ek bahut badi galatfahmi hai jo main door karna chahta hoon.
— Mukesh Khanna (@actmukeshkhanna) July 9, 2024
Kalki film ke do minus points maine nikale the ki… pic.twitter.com/Ywpv9ThnfU
Despite Khanna's criticisms, Kalki 2898 AD has been a commercial success, grossing close to Rs 1000 crore worldwide. Made on a budget of Rs 600 crore, the film features stars like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan. Khanna's remarks, while controversial, highlight the ongoing debate about the accessibility and interpretation of mythological adaptations in Indian cinema. Kalki 2898 AD raked in Rs 900 crore worldwide so far.
Image Source: Twitter