Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, known for his strong opinions and outspoken nature, has been making headlines ever since he expressed his disagreement with Ranveer Singh stepping into the shoes of Shaktimaan. Time and again, he has voiced his concerns over the casting choice, reiterating his belief that the iconic character demands a certain image and persona that he feels should not be compromised. In a fresh interview, his co-star and senior actor Surendra Pal, who has worked with him in Shaktimaan and Mahabharat, reacted to Khanna’s recent comments against casting Ranveer. Surendra Pal, who played Tamraj Kilvish in Shaktimaan, spoke to Sidharth Kannan and reacted to Mukesh Khanna‘s recent remarks suggesting that Ranveer Singh may not be the ideal choice for the role of Shaktimaan. He claimed that the original Shaktimaan would not “compromise” and called him “stubborn.” Pal also said that the Dhurandhar actor is not a bad choice, and that Mukesh Khanna should reconsider his decision. The senior actor said, “He is the best judge; it is his creation. He will naturally want the best for his character, which he treats like his own child even today. That is why he will not compromise. He is very stubborn.” Giving his own perspective, Surendra Pal said, “Ranveer Singh is not a bad choice. I really like him, and after watching Dhurandhar, I have become an even bigger fan. I feel he could be ideal for the role. I think Mukesh ji should reconsider and broaden his thinking a little.” Recently, while speaking to Zoom, Mukesh Khanna hailed Ranveer for his performance in the blockbuster film, Dhurandhar. However, he maintained his stance and said that he does not want a star to portray the iconic superhero. He had said, “See why I am against this is although he is a terrific actor, has terrific energy, he can do Dhurandhar, he can do Gully Boy, he can do Khilji. But in Shaktimaan, you need not just the actor but also the face. Like Prithviraj Chauhan should look like Prithviraj Chauhan when he stands, which Akshay Kumar did not look like in the film. They put on a wig and whatnot. When I played a historical character, it used to take me 1.5 hours just to change costumes. I used to wear a seven-inch crown.” He further continued, “It is my loss. I am losing crores of rupees as Sony is ready to give me crores of rupees. I said, ‘Wait, I don’t want this cast.’ They are adamant, and I am also adamant. They want a star, I don’t want a star. If I am allowed, I would conduct auditions across the country to find who will become Shaktimaan. You will get publicity and also find a boy who is good-looking, simple, and kind. For me, no actor who already has an image can become Shaktimaan.”