veteran actor Mukesh Khannafamous for his iconic roles as Shaktimaan and Bheeshma in the Mahabharata series, recently shared his thoughts on Allu Arjun’s blockbuster Pushpa 2: The Rule on his YouTube channel, Bheeshm International. The film, directed by Sukumarhas taken the box office by storm, entering the Rs 1000 crore club within just seven days of its release.
In a video titled Pushpa 2 Mera Review, Khanna lauded the film’s scale and execution, emphasizing the importance of investing money where it matters. “A film isn’t made with just the money. You need planning, and every single rupee invested in Pushpa is seen on the screen,” he remarked.
He was particularly impressed with the larger-than-life opening scene, where Pushpa triumphs against odds in a gravity-defying fight sequence. Drawing parallels with Bollywood classics, Khanna stated, “If presented with conviction, even the most incredulous scenes become acceptable. Manmohan Desai made us believe the unbelievable in Amar Akbar Anthony, and here, Sukumar achieves something similar.”
Though it was his first encounter with Allu Arjun’s work, Khanna gave the actor’s performance a solid 8-9 out of 10. He even suggested that Arjun could portray Shaktimaan, stating, “He has the personality to pull it off.”
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Khanna didn’t hold back from taking digs at Bollywood, contrasting its approach with South cinema’s respect for cultural and religious sentiments. “South filmmakers respect religion, while Bollywood often mocks it to gain controversy-driven attention,” he commented.
However, his primary concern lay in the glorification of negative stereotypes in Pushpa 2. Highlighting the protagonist’s smuggling activities and defiance of law enforcement, he questioned the film’s message, “Why glorify smuggling and antagonize cops? Is this what we want to convey to the masses?”
Khanna urged filmmakers to move away from glamorizing negativity and focus on creating content with meaningful lessons. He also advocated for better pay for writers, criticizing the disproportionate salaries of lead actors. “Will these actors reduce their salary if films bomb? Pay the writers who truly deserve it,” he asserted.
Despite his concerns, Khanna acknowledged the film’s massive success, crediting its grand vision and meticulous planning. With Pushpa 2 becoming the fastest Indian film to breach the Rs 1000 crore mark, it joins an elite club alongside Baahubali 2, KGF 2, Kalki 2898 AD, and Dangal.