I refused to play Shantanu in Ekta's 'Mahabharat': Mukesh Khanna

Mumbai, July 21(IANS) Mukesh Khanna, who played the role of Bhishma Pitamah in B.R. Chopra's "Mahabharat", says he was offered Shantanu's role in Ekta Kapoor's "Kahani Hamaaray Mahabharat Ki" but turned it down.

"I was offered the role of Shantanu (Bhishma's father) in the serial. But I told them: Do you think that I would do any other role after Bhishma? These types of epics can be created only once. Even I cannot play the role again. It was once and for all," Mukesh told IANS.

Expressing his doubts about the success of Ekta's new venture, he said it was altogether a different time when Chopra's "Mahabharat" was made.

"It had the best of the dedicated people who continuously worked for one particular project for two years to create the serial.

"It was Rahi Masoom Reza writing dialogues for Bhishma, Ravi Chopra directing Bhishma and Mukesh Khanna performing Bhishma that created the legendary character of Bhishma in 'Mahabharat'. Where would you get a writer like Raza today?"

Comparing the TV scene then and now, the actor said: "At that time there used to be one TV channel and now there are hundreds. We had 90 percent of the viewership, whereas now, to get even five percent viewership for a single channel is very difficult. So if anyone says he or she will repeat history, then I have my doubts."