Shah Rukh Khan or Hrithik Roshan: Which Bollywood star should join the MCU? Benedict Cumberbatch answers

The British star spoke about his love for India during the promotion of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Benedict Cumberbatch in a still from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Shah Rukh Khan/Instagram; Hrithik Roshan/Instagram

Benedict Cumberbatch has had a long relationship with India, dating back to his teenage years, and the star of Doctor Strange says he wishes to return one day to meet India's "first superhero." The British actor, who took a gap year after graduating from high school to teach English at a Tibetan monastery in Darjeeling, warmly recalls his six-month stint in India.

The actor said that he adores India and its culture. It feels like he was in the country practically a lifetime ago, when he was in his late teens, teaching, exploring, and travelling for six months.

In a virtual roundtable chat for his next film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Cumberbatch told PTI that he would love to have a reason to come back, and if that's to engage with the first Indian superhero, bring it on.

The 45-year-old actor makes his fifth appearance as Dr. Stephen Strange, aka Sorcerer Supreme, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in part two of Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange (2016).

When asked which Hindi film actor he thought might join the MCU, the London-born actor asked for suggestions, and when Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan were mentioned, he answered, "Khan is great."

The two-time Academy Award nominee, who is also known for his work on the TV show Sherlock and the films The Imitation Game and The Power of the Dog said he is aware of the popularity of the Doctor Strange films in India and hopes to deliver another entertaining film in the much-anticipated sequel.

According to distributors, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which is set to be released in Indian theatres on May 6 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, has amassed nearly Rs 10 crore in pre-sale bookings, according to distributors.

According to Cumberbatch, it's thrilling to learn about the degree of excitement surrounding pre-sales. He owes a big debt of gratitude to his Indian fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. The actor is hoping this film does well as well, but he's not counting on it.

The actor further added that the only reason these films are seen is because they strive to improve them at every stage of production. They are working nonstop to make it a global success.

Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams star in Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The sequel follows Doctor Strange as he struggles to limit the fallout from the multiverse-fracturing spell he cast in the popular film Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, which allowed villains from all over the multiverse to flow into the Marvel Cinematic Universe's main timeline.

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