{
  "id": 5352578,
  "title": "'You Forgot Hindu Dharma?' Mukesh Khanna LASHES OUT At Sharmila Tagore Over Vande Mataram Row | FPJ Exclusive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/you-forgot-hindu-dharma-mukesh-khanna-lashes-out-at-sharmila-tagore",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T14:17:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/you-forgot-hindu-dharma-mukesh-khanna-lashes-out-at-sharmila-tagore-over-vande-mataram-row-fpj-exclusive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has strongly responded to remarks made by his former co-star Sharmila Tagore about the national song Vande Mataram. In an interview with The Free Press Journal, Mukesh questioned why concerns about other religions should influence the way Vande Mataram is viewed and sung. He pointed out that Sharmila's comments seemed to come after she married into the Pataudi family and became aware of Islam. Mukesh also challenged Sharmila's understanding of Hinduism, explaining that it involves the worship of one God manifested in various forms. He defended the song's entirety, citing its musical renditions by artists like Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar and AR Rahman, and argued that the national song should be respected, not forced upon anyone. Mukesh dismissed the political appeasement behind the controversy, stating that it was not about showing solidarity with Muslims but rather a tactic to gain their support.",
  "summary": "Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has never shied away from expressing his views on social, political and cultural issues. The actor, best known for playing Shaktimaan and Bhishma in Mahabharat, has now reacted strongly to remarks attributed to veteran actress Sharmila Tagore regarding Vande Mataram and the debate around singing the national song in its entirety. In an exclusive conversation with The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}