Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, widely respected for his outspoken views on the state of the entertainment industry, has once again raised his voice—this time against the growing trend of vulgarity, sensationalism, and the lack of moral responsibility in modern cinema and music.
In a candid conversation, Khanna lamented the current state of the industry, highlighting how standards have dropped in the name of entertainment. He questioned the silence of influential voices in Bollywood and called out those who continue to promote questionable content without accountability.
“No one speaks up about the kind of songs, the kind of films, and the kind of conversations that are being shown today,” Khanna said.
“Arnab (Goswami) tells me, ‘Mukesh Sir, you’re the only one who speaks against drugs, pornography... even the biggest names like the Mahanayak remain silent.’”
Khanna expressed deep admiration for veteran actor-director Manoj Kumar, whom he credited as the only artist from Bollywood’s golden era who consistently used cinema to deliver strong nationalistic and moral messages. “There was only one actor who cared, who dared to speak through his films—and that was Manoj Kumar. He made films that we still need today,” Khanna remarked.
“Films like Purab Aur Paschim, Shaheed, Kranti—he was a remarkable filmmaker with a powerful purpose.”
Mukesh Khanna revealed a telling moment with a producer who tried to justify the industry's current direction, claiming that content creators only produce what audiences demand. “A producer once told me, ‘We make what people want to see.’ I told him, ‘No—they watch it because you are showing it. If you don’t give it to them, they won’t watch it.’”
According to Khanna, the solution is not to follow the market blindly but to shape the market responsibly, offering content that builds society instead of eroding its values.
Reflecting on his own legacy, Khanna brought up Shaktimaan, the iconic superhero series that inspired an entire generation with its message of inner strength, morality, and truth. “That’s why I made Shaktimaan. To give something children—and even adults—can watch without shame, something that teaches while entertaining.”
Mukesh Khanna’s message is as much for the creators as it is for the audience. He urges filmmakers to take responsibility for the influence they wield and asks viewers to discourage poorly made films with poor intentions. “Don’t promote content that’s made with a dirty mindset, just for attention. We need to bring back films that have meaning, values, and purpose,” he concluded.
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