Mukesh Khannaâs comments mocking Sonakshi Sinha on her knowledge about the mythological saga âRamayanâ got a lot of attention on social media. Today, the veteran actor defended his own statement and explained that he took her name as an example and did not intend to demean her. It happened right after Sonakshiâs father Shatrughan Sinha ranted in an interview taking a dig at the Shaktimaan actor. Let us take you back to how it all started.

1. April 4: It was earlier this month when the mythological sagas  Ramayan and Mahabharat started to telecast again and in an interview, Mukesh Khanna was asked to react on the same. Khanna had played the role of Bhishma Pitamah in the iconic mythological show Mahabharat which aired on Doordarshan in the 90s. 

© Doordarshan

In the interview, he took a pot-shot at Sonakshi Sinha by bringing up the fact that she did not know anything about Indian mythology. So you might remember how Sonakshi was trolled on social media after she featured on Kaun Banega Crorepati where she was asked a question from the Ramayan and she couldn't answer it. 

Referring to that episode, Mukesh Khanna had said, âI think the reruns will be useful to many who havenât watched the show earlier. It will also help people like Sonakshi Sinha who have no knowledge about our mythological sagas. People like her donât know who lord Hanuman got Sanjivani for.â

2. April 7: After his statement started to go viral, Mukeshâs Mahabharat co-star Nitish Bhardwaj had also criticized his comments on Sonakshi and questioned why to target Sonakshi alone and added that there is always a better way to say the same thing. He added that seniors should be empathetic towards their juniors.

3. April 11: Well, Sonakshiâs father Shatrughan Sinha came in defense of his daughter and gave it back to Mukesh Khanna without even mentioning his name. Shatrughan Sinha told an entertainment portal, âI believe someone has a problem with Sonakshi not answering a question on the Ramayan. Firstly what qualifies this person to be an expert on all things to do with the Ramayan? And who has appointed him the guardian of the Hindu religion? I am very proud of my three children. Sonakshi became a star on her own. I never had to launch her career. She is a daughter any father would be proud to have. Not answering a question on the Ramayan doesnât disqualify Sonakshi from being a good Hindu. She doesnât need a certificate of approval from anyone.â

4. April 12: Puneet Issar, who is known for his performance as Duryodhan in B. R. Chopra's mythological show Mahabharata, also slammed Mukesh for his insensitive remark targeting Sonakshi. In an interview, he said, âKhanna shouldnât have said that. Sonakshi is an AVM student, my kids too went there. If she didnât know one question of Ramayan in KBC, the world wouldn't end there. Why should one condemn someone so openly? At least I wouldnât have said what Khanna has said,â he said. âAs you age, you should be grateful. âPhal lagte hain toh pedh jhuk jaana chahiye (A fruit-bearing tree should bow down),â he added.

5. April 13/14: Mukesh Khanna has now defended his statements saying that he wasnât demeaning Sonakshi. In an interview with TOI, âPeople have blown my comment out of proportion and presented it wrongly to Shatruji. I have known him for long and have immense respect for him. I took Sonakshiâs name as a mere example. It does not mean I was trying to demean her or question her knowledge. My intention was not to target her. However, I am shocked to see how the current generation is not aware of many things.â

Well, itâs high time that we stop using Sonakshi Sinhaâs example all over again and again but I totally get what Mukesh Khanna has been saying that we the millennials lack knowledge about our mythological sagas. But, itâs unfair to take any name to support your argument knowing that Sonakshi has already faced the brunt because of the same.

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