Mukesh Khanna Wants 'Vande Mataram' As India's National Anthem; Says 'Jana Gana Mana' Should Be Removed

New Delhi: Actor Mukesh Khanna has reportedly issued a rather shocking statement demanding that the 'National Anthem' be replaced by 'Vande Mataram'. He claimed that the National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' was written as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth.

What was Mukesh Khanna's statement?

Mukesh Khanna who played the role of 'Shaktimaan' has made a statement demanding replacement of the National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', with the national song 'Vande Mataram' but while giving this statement he committed many mistakes regarding India's national song and national anthem.

"Three years ago, I had said that 'Vande Mataram' should be made a national anthem. 'Jana Gana Mana' is not the national anthem of our country. This is a tribute to Queen Elizabeth. Rabindranath Tagore wrote a song in praise of her. We have accepted it. Bhagyavidhata, Punjab, Singh. It is not ours. 'Vande Mataram' is ours. Lata ji sang it so beautifully. I had a meeting with Kalyanji Anandji bhai. It has been two years since I have read it. I have recorded a Vande Mataram song for seven minutes which should become iconic," he told IANS.

He further added, "And I want that as soon as possible, 'Jana Gana Mana' should be removed from our country. 'Vande Mataram' should be brought. And Modi ji has started work in this direction. It is now compulsory in every school, in every function. 'Vande Mataram' will be sung first, and that complete song, some parts of which were removed in between.

So I am happy that 'Vande Mataram' is rising. My song has been released in six months."

What about Mukesh and Samay controversy?

It's not the first time that the actor is issuing a controversial statement. On earlier occasions, the actor-producer criticized comedian Samay Raina after the latter took a jibe at the actor-producer's iconic 90s character, Shaktimaan.

Mukesh tweeted on X and said that Samay should sit on a donkey and addressed him as a "Kutte ki dum" (a dog's tail)".

His tweet came days after Samay made a statement on "irrelevant people" trying to make their name amid the recent 'India's Got Latent' controversy. However, later Mukesh Khanna himself collaborated with the comedian in an unexpected advertisement.