Sonakshi Sinha Ramayan Controversy: Mukesh Khanna Gives Befitting Reply to Nitish Bhardway’s ‘Why Target Sonakshi?’ Comment

Rewinding to a few months, Sonakshi Sinha had sparked a debate when she made an appearance on Amitabh Bachchan’s show Kaun Banega Crorepati and failed to answer a question on the Indian mythology Ramayana. Sonakshi was trolled mercilessly on social media for not knowing for whom the Hanuman got the Sanjeevani booti.

 Cut to today, the entire nation is facing a lockdown due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Amid the lockdown, iconic shows like Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan and BR Chopra's Mahabharat have made a comeback on Doordarshan. 

While talking about the comeback of the show Ramayan, Mukesh Khanna, who played Bhishma in the show Mahabharat had taken a jibe against Sonakshi for not knowing the history of Indian culture.

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I think the reruns will be useful to many who haven’t watched the show earlier. It will also help people like Sonakshi Sinha who have no knowledge about our mythological sagas. People like her don’t know who Lord Hanuman got the Sanjivani for. There is a video doing the rounds where few boys are asked whose Mama (uncle) was Kans and they got scared to answer. Some said Duryodhan, others said something else, so they are not aware of the mythology.

- Mukesh Khanna

Soon before the actress could react to Khanna’s comment, Nitish Bhardwaj, who played Lord Krishna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat came to her rescue and said: 

Why target Sonakshi alone? There’s always a better way to say the same thing. A balanced, soft and empathetic way; and it is received better too. Seniors seem worthy of respect if they walk the path of empathy.

- Nitish Bhardwaj

It did not stop here. Mukesh Khanna has yet again given a befitting reply to Bhardwaj and stood by his words stating that he likes to speak his mind without mincing his words. He also clarified that he was not targeting Sonakshi, but her entire generation through her. 

Responding to Nitish’s comment, Mukesh said, 

I am still as gentle a soul as you knew me during the days when we worked on Mahabharat. I am not targeting Sonakshi Sinha at all. I don’t even know her. I know Shatrughan Sinha well and I have great respect for him as a person as well as an actor. I must clear this point once and for all. Through her I was targeting a generation of youngsters who are not bothered to know anything about our culture, History, and epics like the Mahabharat and Ramayan. It’s not a small thing. The country’s future rests on their shoulders. Someone had to speak. I did. People like you (Nitish Bhardwaj) will not speak because you are bothered about relationships. I am not. I care for the welfare of our country and I speak my mind without mincing words. I used Sonakshi’s example to make a serious point because it happened on a popular show. I’m happy that the shows are being retelecast in these times (national lockdown).

- Mukesh Khanna

Well, while we still await Sonakshi’s comment on the same, are you watching the shows Ramayan and Mahabharat on Doordarshan? Let us know in the comments below...

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