Mukesh Khanna wants Vande Mataram as national anthem, calls Jana Gana Mana tribute to Queen

Actor Mukesh Khanna has renewed his demand to replace 'Jana Gana Mana' with 'Vande Mataram' as India's national anthem, news.abplive.com reports. Speaking to IANS, Khanna claimed that Rabindranath Tagore wrote 'Jana Gana Mana' in tribute to Queen Elizabeth and that it is 'not ours'. He said 'Vande Mataram' is the rightful anthem.

Khanna said he first raised the demand three years ago and wants the change to happen as soon as possible. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for progress, saying 'Vande Mataram' is now compulsory in schools and functions. The actor, best known for playing Shaktimaan in the 1990s, said he has recorded a seven-minute version of Vande Mataram that he hopes will become iconic.