Even as the post-apocalypse science fiction film Kalki 2898 AD has been receiving rave reviews from celebrities and movie goers alike, actor Mukesh Khanna, popular for playing Bhishma in the television series Mahabharat and Shaktiman in the eponymous series, is not too happy about the movie.
A blend of Hindu epic Mahabharata and science fiction, Kalki 2898 AD, made at a reported budget of Rs 600 crore, is produced by Vyjayanthi Movies and was released on June 27 in six languages: Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English. Kalki 2898 AD is arguably the most expensive feature film in Indian cinema history.
While Mukesh Khanna hailed the acting and visuals in the Nag Ashwin directorial, starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead, he was less impressed with the creative choice to mix elements of Mahabharata in the movie, and twist the mythology.
In a lengthy video, Mukesh Khanna said he is bothered by the makers of Kalki 2898 AD trying to change mythology. He asked them if they presume to know more than Vyas muni. He narrated in detail how Ashwatthama’s gem was removed from his forehead to explain how Kalki 2898 AD got it wrong.
Khanna said the creative liberties taken by the makers of Kalki 2898 AD are inexcusable.
He demanded that the government set up a committee to look into films that are made based on Ramayana or Mahabharat or other mythological topics and even take control over scripts if needed.