Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
For generations of fans, He-Man has been synonymous with brute strength, bulging muscles and a battle cry that echoes through pop culture history. But Masters of the Universe looks beyond the sword and spectacle, placing equal emphasis on vulnerability, self-belief and identity- themes that resonated deeply with stars Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes as they stepped into the roles of Adam and Teela.
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In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the duo reflected on joining the beloved franchise, navigating expectations and embracing the emotional complexity at the heart of their characters. They also promised to shoot the sequel for the film in India along with a Bollywood proposal.
When informed about their popularity in India and asked if audiences could expect to see Adam and Teela in the country someday, Galitzine replied, “Ooh, I would love that.” “I would love that too,” Mendes added.
The actors then chimed in together: “Bring us over. Invite us.” Galitzine took the idea a step further. “So, we’ll shoot the sequel in India,” he joked. When asked if that was a promise, Nicholas added, “That’s a promise,” and quickly added a condition. “Only if we get to have a cool Bollywood dance number.”
“Yeah, that would be a lot of fun,” Mendes agreed. Beyond the India plans, both actors reflected on the leap of faith that brought them into one of pop culture’s most iconic fantasy franchises.
Addressing the reaction to his casting as He-Man, Galitzine said he largely avoided online discourse. “We try and stay off the internet. I knew how to play this person. I read the script, I felt Adam’s heart and his vulnerability,” he said. The actor credited director Travis Knight’s faith in him for helping shape the character. “Travis trusted me that the body would come after months of training. He was looking for Adam’s soul, I think, in an actor.”
Galitzine said it was Adam’s emotional depth that convinced him he was right for the role. “I loved the way Adam uses humour to deflect. I loved the way he sees people, the way he brings out the best in people. It was just something I knew I could do,” he shared.
Mendes, meanwhile, revealed that playing Teela required her to overcome her own insecurities. “I had to keep reminding myself that I deserve to be here, that I’m worthy of this role, that I’m capable of playing this role,” she said.
“There was nothing about my body of work before this project that suggested I could do something like this. Ultimately, it is a risk, and I was so honoured that Travis saw this warrior woman in me,” she recalled.
That belief, Mendes said, became her biggest source of confidence. “If he can see me fit into this world, then I can see it for myself too,” Mendes exclaimed.
The film also challenges the idea of masculinity in its own way. Asked whether Adam’s vulnerability resonated with him, Galitzine replied, “Yes, completely.” “We all have multitudes within us,” he mentioned.
Reflecting on the dynamic between Adam and Teela, he added, “When Adam meets Teela, you could say she has sort of more typical masculine qualities. She’s very stoic in a lot of ways.” For Galitzine, the film ultimately argues that strength cannot exist without vulnerability.
“Being so singular in these ways kind of gets them nowhere, and you have to embrace all sides of yourself. You have to embrace vulnerability and sensitivity, as well as have some pretty sweet muscles, in order to save the day,” he underlined.
Whether a Masters of the Universe sequel eventually lands in India remains to be seen. But if Galitzine’s promise holds, Indian fans may one day see He-Man swap Eternia for a Bollywood dance floor.
Masters of the Universe releases in India on June 5, 2026.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
