Shaktimaan actor Mukesh has shot off a complaint to Renji Panicker, the president of FEFKA Director's Union, against Omar Lulu, the director of an upcoming film, Dhamaka. Omar had posted a location still from Dhamaka of Malayalam actor Mukesh (coincidence only) donning the Shaktimaan costume on his Facebook page, which was reported by some media.
The superhero television show Shaktimaan, which had actor Mukesh Khanna playing the title role, started its telecast in Doordarshan in 1997. Even after all these years, it looks like Shaktimaan can still pack a powerful punch. Shaktimaan actor Mukesh, also the producer of the serial, has shot off a complaint to Renji Panicker, the president of FEFKA Director’s Union, against Omar Lulu, the director of an upcoming film Dhamaka. If you are wondering what Mukesh Khanna’s grouse against a Malayalam film is, then blame it on the power of social media.
Omar had posted a location still from Dhamaka of Malayalam actor Mukesh (coincidence only) donning the Shaktimaan costume on his Facebook page, which was reported by some media. The well-known reach of social media ensured that the photo soon turn viral. It did not miss finding its way to the original Shaktimaan too, who registered his complaint addressed to Renji, the excerpt of which reads, “One of your member directors Omar Lulu is making a film titled Dhamaka, where he is using a character as Shaktimaan. The role is being played by actor Mukesh. I am enclosing the stills making rounds in social media for your reference. I am the copyright holder of the character Shaktimaan, his costume, theme, music etc. No one can use this character in a film without my permission.” Mukesh ends his notice asking Renji to stop Omar from using the scene in the film or else he would be forced to take legal action against Omar.
Director Omar is not new to controversies, having faced his share of them with each film of his. Dhamaka stars Olympian Anthony Adam fame Arun Kumar and Nikki Galrani in lead roles. When contacted, Omar is as cool as a cucumber and explains, “I think Mukesh Khanna is under the mistaken impression that we are recreating and using Shaktimaan in a major portion of the film whereas the reality is that the scene in which Malayalam actor Mukesh has donned the Shaktimaan costume is only to provide comic relief in a very small sequence.” Omar admits that he never expected that still from Dhamaka to go viral or to reach a level that he would receive a complaint against it.
The director is planning to get in touch with Mukesh Khanna and explain his side to him. “If Mukesh still objects, we will remove the scene from the film.” Omar points out that even some Tamil films had actors donning the Shaktimaan costume to provide comic moments. “So, we thought it would be OK if we too used it, but I never thought it would lead to a complaint against me from Mukesh himself.”
