Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, known for his iconic 90s role as Shaktimaan, faces backlash after announcing his return as the beloved superhero.
Shaktimaan, known as India’s first superhero,was popular in late 1990s. The Character that was a friend of kids, and an enemy of bad guys. Actor Mukesh Khanna played the role and quickly won over the audience. Now, this iconic hero is set to return to our screens. He made the announcement by donning the iconic suit and meeting the media. Although the actor appeared excited about making a comeback, fans of the superhero weren’t seems to be impressed this time.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, November 11 the actor opened up about his deep connection with the role and his excitement to comeback on the screen.
“This is a costume within me,” Khanna shared. “Personally, I feel this costume has come from within… I performed well as Shaktimaan because the character comes from within me. Acting is all about confidence. When I’m shooting, I forget about the camera. I am even happier than others to become Shaktimaan again.”
Reflecting on bringing Shaktimaan back to a new generation, he added, “I am fulfilling a duty I began in 1997, which continued until 2005. My work should reach the public again by 2027 because today’s generation is running blindly. They need to be told to pause and catch their breath.”
On Sunday, Mukesh Khanna took to Instagram to share a poster and announce the teaser video, which offers a glimpse of Shaktimaan’s comeback. In the video, Shaktimaan is seen flying and landing in a school, singing a song about freedom as he gazes at pictures of Indian freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, and Subhash Chandra Bose. As of now, it is unclear if the show will return as a film, a TV series or a web series.
Fans reaction to Shaktimaan’s return
Many 90s kids are not happy with Mukesh Khanna’s comeback as Shaktimaan. While the character holds nostalgic value, some feel that the actor’s return doesn’t align with their expectations for a modern reboot. This has sparked mixed reactions across social media.
One user wrote on X (formely Twitter), “Don’t ruin Shaktiman pls, don’t do it,” another one added, “Certain historical characters are best left in their original form—unrevised and unaltered.”
However, some fans were happy to have Shaktiman back. “Wow. Our childhood hero is back,” a post said. “Indian Arnold,” a user called Khanna.
Meanwhile, Mukesh’s announcement came amid rumours that Ranveer Singh was being considered as the new Shaktimaan on the big screen.
About Shaktimaan
Shaktimaan, which originally aired on Doordarshan in 1997, became one of India’s most beloved superhero shows. Running for over 450 episodes, it has remained a nostalgic memory for millions of viewers across the country. Shaktimaan was aired on DD National from 13 September 1997 to 27 March 2005.
