Mukesh Khanna is returning to the big screen with Vishwaguru, and he is characteristically clear about why: the subject, the message, and the fact that audiences are, in his words, waiting for him.
The actor, best known as Shaktimaan and Bhishma Pitamah, told IANS that he rarely says yes to films. He framed Vishwaguru as his most significant big-screen outing since Dev Anand’s 2001 film Censor, where he played an Indian Army officer.
A rare yes from a selective star
The makers met him three times to discuss the story before he agreed. Khanna said that persistence eventually won him over, and he recalled that the filmmaker ultimately left a Ram Bandh on him, a gesture that helped close the conversation.
“I make very few films… People are waiting for me.”
That line, attributed to Khanna by IANS, captures his selective approach. The filmmakers also assured him that all his dialogues would be in Hindi. For a star whose identity is so closely tied to Hindi-language roles, that promise helped clear the path.
What Vishwaguru is about
Directed by Shailesh Boghani and Atul Sonar, Vishwaguru follows an international group that attempts to attack India through deceit and force. The film turns to spiritual knowledge as a source of strength, presenting India as a vishwaguru, or teacher to the world.
Why the return matters
Khanna has spent years building a specific kind of mass appeal. His stints as Shaktimaan and Bhishma Pitamah made him a familiar face across generations, but his selective filmography has kept big-screen appearances rare. That combination of recognition and scarcity is what makes Vishwaguru feel like an event rather than just another casting announcement. Fans who grew up with Shaktimaan will be watching to see whether the actor can carry that mythic energy into a contemporary, message-driven story.
- Rare screen moment: Khanna says this is his first big film since Censor in 2001.
- Persistence paid off: The team met him three times and promised Hindi dialogues.
- Message-driven premise: The film frames spiritual knowledge as national strength.
What to watch for
This first announcement does not include a release date or additional cast details, so the next talking point is likely to be a teaser or first-look poster. For now, the draw is simple: a selective star, a subject he believes in, and a comeback that has already made fans sit up.
Khanna’s own framing—that people are waiting for him—captures the stakes. Whether Vishwaguru delivers on that expectation will depend on the first footage, but the decision itself is enough to make this one of Bollywood’s more intriguing upcoming returns.
Source: The Times of India
