Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, best known for his iconic roles as Shaktimaan and Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat, shared his candid views on the current state of award shows in an exclusive interview.
Speaking about how talent is often recognized too late, Mukesh Khanna recalled how legendary actor Manoj Kumar was brought on stage in a wheelchair to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. “You shouldn’t give someone an award when you think it’s their last moment or when they’re close to dying,” he said. “You should honour them when they can celebrate it and feel proud. Awards should be about recognizing hard work and contributions, not sympathy.”
While some might assume he’s critical of awards because he hasn’t received many himself, Mukesh Khanna dismissed the idea with grace. “People often say, ‘Aapko award nahi mila isiliye aap keh rahe ho,’ but I’ve received all the love and respect from my audience, and that is more than enough for me.”
He also shared his thoughts on the changing nature of award shows. “Today, it feels like award functions have become mere TV events. They are held abroad, pre-recorded, and aired later. It’s all just a packaged entertainment show filled with glitz and glamour.”
Commenting on the National Film Awards, Mukesh Khanna said he was happy to see Shah Rukh Khan finally being recognized. “He truly deserved a National Award, but I feel he should have received it for Swades, not the recent film he won it for. But of course, these decisions depend on the jury.”
Despite some criticism of the films SRK chooses now, like Pathaan, Mukesh Khanna had only praise for the superstar’s contribution to the industry. “Shah Rukh has worked incredibly hard and on a huge scale. I’ve worked with him and he has an amazing sense of humour. But nowadays, many movies are just about action, with no real content. That has brought down the standard of Hindi cinema.”
In closing, Mukesh Khanna said, “I don’t care about awards. What matters most to me is the respect I’ve earned over the years. That is my biggest achievement.”
