Mukesh Khanna Faces Backlash for Comments on Bihar and Odisha Audiences After Kalki 2898 AD Review
Kalki 2898 AD Review: Mukesh Khanna recently shared reviews of Kalki 2898 AD. Despite praising the performances and the scale of the film and awarding it 100 points, Khanna suggested that the film seemed tailored for Western audiences and implied that viewers in Bihar and Odisha might not understand it. The comment sparked significant backlash, prompting Khanna to issue an apology.
Renowned actor Mukesh Khanna, best known for his role as Bhishma in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, has recently come under fire on social media for a controversial remark made while reviewing Nag Ashwin’s film, Kalki 2898 AD, on his YouTube channel. Despite praising the performances and the scale of the film and awarding it 100 points, Khanna suggested that the film seemed tailored for Western audiences and implied that viewers in Bihar and Odisha might not understand it. The comment sparked significant backlash, prompting Khanna to issue an apology.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Mukesh Khanna sought to clarify his comments and address the misunderstanding. He emphasized that his critique was directed at the film, not at the people of Bihar and Odisha. "I travel around Bihar and Odisha extensively. I have campaigned there. I have attended functions there. I have paid my respects at the temple in Puri. Why would I disrespect the people from Bihar and Odisha? I was only commenting about the film, and I wasn’t demeaning anybody from Bihar and Odisha," Khanna explained.
Khanna had originally stated in his review, "The level of intellect with which the film has been made is fine for Hollywood. People are more intelligent than us over there. Forgive me, but audiences in Odisha and Bihar are not going to understand this kind of filmmaking." He later clarified that he watched the movie with three team members from Bihar, who found the first half boring and confusing. "The film’s first half is boring and confusing, and the average audience member isn’t going to understand it. This is a critique directed at the film, and I was only using the villagers of Bihar and Odisha as an example to assert my point," Khanna reasoned.
In addition to his comments on the film's reception, Khanna also criticized director Nag Ashwin for presenting a misleading interpretation of the Mahabharata. He expressed his disapproval of the filmmakers' decision to alter elements of the epic tale, finding it offensive.