In 1992, Feroz Khan’s Yalgaar hit theaters to mixed reviews. While the performances of Sanjay Dutt, Kabir Bedi, and Nagma were widely praised, along with the action sequences, the film faced criticism for casting Mukesh Khanna as Feroz Khan’s father, despite being a decade younger. Now, over 32 years later, Mukesh Khanna has opened up about why he took the role and how his relationship with Feroz Khan evolved.
In an interview with Bollywood Thikana, Mukesh Khanna candidly reflected on the role, stating, “I became a joke in the industry.” He further explained, “There was a scene between Feroz and me on the breakfast table, where he called me dad in between the conversation. Industry people had made it a laughing point.”
Khanna also revealed that this casting choice impacted his relationship with Feroz Khan, especially after a snub at the film’s premiere. Khanna recalled, “After that incident, I was avoiding him throughout. But, we happened to meet at Sanjay Khan’s daughter’s wedding. At the wedding, I think he noticed that I was ignoring him, so he came to me and greeted me. At that point, I revealed to him that I was upset with him after what he did at Yalgaar’s premiere. He told me, ‘Mukesh, I was tensed about something and it skipped my mind.’”
Despite this explanation, Khanna admitted he wasn’t fully satisfied. “Sir, people did not accept me in your father’s role,” he told Khan, to which Feroz responded, “Mukesh, I took you for your Pitamah image.” Khanna acknowledged that this response quieted him.
In the same interview, Khanna shed light on how he eventually agreed to the role. Initially, he had declined the offer. “An assistant came at my house near Marine Drive and claimed, ‘I have come from Feroz Khan’s team’. I greeted him, we had a conversation over chai. He narrated me the story and said, ‘You will be the commissioner, you are dealing with a don played by Kabir Bedi and Feroz Khan will play an inspector, who is also your son.’ This whole time, I didn’t have objection that how can I play father to Feroz Khan. I just had in mind, I don’t want to do this film.”
Khanna revealed that he was hesitant because he feared being typecast as a commissioner, saying, “I invest my everything into any role I play. And if I will [play] a commissioner here, I will end up becoming another Iftekhar. Nobody could match up the role of Commissioner of Police like him. I don’t want to do this.”
However, after hearing the story a second time, Khanna changed his mind. He realized, “This is the story of the commissioner of police. He is just not another character.” He added that his decision was validated when Raj Babbar told him during a conversation in Dubai, “You were the best part of Yalgaar.”
Despite its mixed reception, Yalgaar became the ninth highest-grossing film of the year, leaving a lasting impression in Bollywood.
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