Mukesh Khanna He remains relevant in public discourse, largely due to the enduring popularity of Shaktimaan in his superhero avatar. Adding to the conversation, the veteran actor Surendra Palwho shared screen space with him in both Shaktimaan and Mahabharat, recently reflected on their bond and career together.In an interview with Sidharth Kannan, Surendra spoke warmly about Mukesh, saying, “My friendship with Mukesh has been very strong, it still is. We have always had a cordial relationship. I respect him deeply and I have a lot of respect for him. The role of Bhishma Pitamah that he portrayed was so beautiful that I don’t think anyone could have done it better as an actor. passion.“Recalling how he landed the role of iconic villain Tamraj Kilvish, Surendra revealed that he actively sought it out. “I told him to play the villain. He said no, only a specific person can do this role. I asked him who and I said Amrish Puri. I said fine, but I knew Amrish Puri wouldn’t do it because he was too busy with films. In television, you need a full-time commitment; you can’t work like you do in films.”Later when he found that the paper was still incomplete, he again approached Mukesh. “When I came to know that Shaktimaan’s villain role was still vacant, I went to his office again and said, give me this role. He asked me what I was going to do. I said, give it to me first, then I’ll show you.”Surendra also shed light on the intense preparation that went into forming Tamraj Kilvish. “I started thinking deeply about the character. Mukesh ji suggested me to use nose extension, and also said that I should stay away from the image of Dronacharya. We decided to completely transform it. I wore a wig with curly hair, changed my eyebrows, changed my eyes and even changed my teeth. It was difficult to paint them and put rubber there. As I was talking, I could also taste the color. I wore long artificial nails. Everything was very difficult.”Mukesh Khanna praised his portrayal of Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat, saying, “He played the role of Bhishma Pitamah’s age but added so many variations. He worked exceptionally well.” He further added, “With Shaktimaan, Bhishma moved away from the image of Pitamah and added humor to the character. He became a favorite among children. This only shows his range as an actor.”Facing rumors of a rift between them, Surendra dismissed the claims. “He’s a wonderful man and a wonderful actor. I left the role of Kilvish because I was filming inside the caves where the torches were lit, and there was always smoke everywhere. I’ve also had to wear heavy padding to make myself look fat. The heat was intense and I was sweating profusely. After a point, I couldn’t continue. It wasn’t about money; sometimes your health suffers. I wanted to take care of my health.” He further clarified, “There was never any ego problem between us. Both our characters were equally significant and are still remembered in the public memory. And we were both equal actors. In fact, during the work, there was never any ego problem between us.”Surendra Pal also weighed in on Mukesh Khanna’s recent comments about Shaktimaan’s casting, especially his reservations. Ranveer Singh stepping into the iconic role. Echoing Mukesh’s stand, Surendra said, “He is the best judge; he is his creation. Naturally, he will want the best for his character, whom he treats as his own child even today. That is why he will not compromise. He is very stubborn.”At the same time, he shared his point of view, expressing confidence in Ranveer’s fitness. He said, “Ranveer Singh is not a bad choice. I like him a lot, and after watching Dhurandhar, I have become an even bigger fan. I think he could be perfect for the role. I think Mukesh ji should rethink his thinking and expand a bit.”
