Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has come to the defense of his daughter, Sonakshi Sinha, after Mukesh Khanna’s comments questioning her upbringing. Khanna, in a recent interview, criticized Sonakshi for not answering a question about Lord Hanuman in Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) 2019, sparking controversy.
Sonakshi had earlier responded to Khanna’s remarks with a lengthy Instagram story, where she slammed the veteran actor. Shatrughan, in an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Hungama, expressed his disapproval of Khanna’s statements, saying, “What qualifies him to be an expert on the Ramayana? Who appointed him the guardian of Hinduism?” He further emphasized that failing to answer a question related to the Ramayana did not diminish Sonakshi’s values as a Hindu.
The veteran actor continued to defend his daughter, stating, “I am extremely proud of Sonakshi. She made a name for herself in the industry without my assistance. She is a daughter any father would be proud of.” He added, “Not knowing the answer to a question about the Ramayana doesn’t make her a bad Hindu. She doesn’t need approval from anyone to prove her faith.”
Mukesh Khanna, known for his role as Shaktimaan, had previously expressed his disappointment over Sonakshi’s failure to answer the question during KBC, suggesting it was a result of her parents not prioritizing Indian culture and values. He even blamed her father for not teaching her about the Ramayana and Indian traditions. Khanna said, “If I were Shaktimaan, I would ensure that children are taught about Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma.”
Responding to Khanna’s continued remarks, Sonakshi posted on Instagram: “You keep taking my name for reasons which are quite obvious. Yes, I blanked out that day, a human tendency, but that doesn’t define me.” She also urged Khanna to stop revisiting the incident for publicity, stating, “Please stop bringing up the same incident to stay relevant at the expense of me and my family.”
Sonakshi concluded her post by addressing Khanna’s comments on her upbringing, saying, “It’s because of the values my father instilled in me that I’ve responded respectfully. I wish you well.”
The incident dates back to 2019 when Sonakshi, on Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 11, used a lifeline after being stumped by a question about the Ramayana. Her inability to answer the question led to widespread trolling on social media, with many criticizing her knowledge of Indian mythology.
