Mukesh Khanna reacts to Amitabh Bachchan's alleged remark 'saala copy karta hai'

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna recently addressed allegations of copying Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, shedding light on an old anecdote involving a remark allegedly made by Big B. Mukesh recounted how a comment attributed to Amitabh lingered in his thoughts over the years, though he clarified that it never influenced his career decisions or affected their mutual respect.



During an interaction on the YouTube channel Hindi Rush, Mukesh shared an incident related to an advertisement he appeared in. In the ad, he was seen applying perfume, which attracted girls, making them stare at him. One person told him that when the advert was played in cinemas, he was with Amitabh, and Big B had made a shocking statement about Mukesh.

“He told me that Amit ji saw the ad and said, ‘Saala copy karta hai’ (He’s copying me). If I were in his place, I might have said the same thing,” Mukesh added. While admitting the statement stayed in his mind, Mukesh recalled his initial disbelief, saying, “I told that man, ‘Pagal hai tu, woh aisa bolege? (Are you mad? Do you think he’d say this?)’”

Mukesh also spoke about how the comment was perceived by the media over the years. He refuted suggestions that the alleged remark had a negative impact on his career. “Many people suggested Amitabh Bachchan’s single statement ‘finished’ my career. But to say that is a nonsensical statement made by somebody,” he remarked, emphasising that his career trajectory had nothing to do with Amitabh’s words.


The actor recalled an exchange with a journalist who asked whether Amitabh had sabotaged his career. Mukesh firmly denied the notion.

Mukesh highlighted his cordial interactions with Amitabh over the years, despite the alleged comment. He shared a specific instance during a flight from London to India, where they greeted each other before taking their seats. “I have encountered Amitabh ‘10 times’ since hearing about the alleged remark. We have always exchanged pleasantries,” Mukesh said.

The actor clarified that his choices in the entertainment industry were driven by his own preferences. He stated that Amitabh didn’t stop him from starring in 'Mahabharat' or 'Shaktimaan'. He added that he only acted in a few films because he had signed only a limited number.

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