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Mukesh Khanna, known for his role as Bhishma in the classic 1988 TV series Mahabharat created by BR Chopra, recently made headlines with his comments on recent adaptations of the show. The actor is known for speaking his mind and never shies away from criticising something he doesn’t like. Earlier, the actor stated how he was not happy with the way Kalki 2898 AD makers tampered with mythology with Amitabh Bachchan’s Ashwatthama’s character. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Mukesh Khanna, who also played Shaktimaan, criticised the newer versions for failing to match the original’s authenticity. He praised the original series for its faithful adaptation of Hindu mythology, credited to the writing of Dr Rahim Masoomraja and Pandit Narendra Sharma. The actor stirred up the entertainment news world by slamming Ekta Kapoor for her version of the show, titled Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki The Shaktimaan star slammed Ekta Kapoor for giving Draupadi a tattoo and depicting the Pandavas as if they were models. He argued that these changes tampered with the scriptural elements of the story. Khanna highlighted the performances of the original cast, including Praveen Kumar as Bhim, Feroz Khan as Arjun, Pankaj Dhir as Karna, and Gajendra Chauhan as Yudhishthir, as outstanding. He also pointed out that the unique identities of Nakul and Sahadev were well represented. However, he expressed disappointment with the recent adaptations’ visual portrayal, criticising their costume designs and the difficulty in differentiating between the Pandavas. Khanna stated that he will continue to voice his concerns whenever he sees something that’s visible. Mukesh Khanna also commented on how, in Ekta’s show, Arjun, Karna, and Bhima were made to look slightly taller, but he feels these changes are insufficient. He criticised the modern approach, suggesting that previous adaptations had greater dedication, while today’s versions have become overly commercialised. The actor believes that storytelling quality has diminished compared to BR Chopra’s show, and today’s productions rely too much on gimmicks and big sets. Mukesh Khanna believes that the Mahabharata series has not been successfully recreated, despite three different adaptations. He shared that someone told him these attempts were merely efforts to copy the original BR Chopra show. Khanna responded, questioning what else they could do considering they have no other option.

 Mukesh Khanna has shared his thoughts on Ekta Kapoor’s adaptation of Mahabharat. The actor is not happy the way the characters were portrayed.