Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, widely recognized for his portrayal of the legendary Indian superhero 'Shaktimaan', is making headlines once again.
When Khanna, at 66, announced his return as Shaktimaan, he donned the character's famous red superhero suit. The man who had become synonymous with the role in late 1990s could not hide his excitement over bringing the character back into life in a new avatar in his video.
Soon after the announcement came, within just 14 hours of the news breaking, the topic saw over 20,000 searches, with interest in the keyword surging by more than 1,000 percent.
However, Mukesh Khanna's announcement didn’t go down well with netizens and the actor was trolled.
Mukesh Khanna shared his excitement and his deep personal connection with the character. Speaking about his motivation, he said, I am carrying out my duty that I started in 1997 and which went on till 2005. I think that my work should reach the public in 2027 because today’s generation is running blindly. They have to be stopped and told to catch their breath…”
Reactions on platforms like Reddit and X were mixed, with some users expressing doubt about whether the actor could still handle such a physically demanding role.
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh was previously considered for the role of Shaktimaan in a modern film adaptation, but Mukesh Khanna opposed the idea of him playing the iconic superhero.
Debuting in 1997 on Doordarshan, Shaktimaan quickly became a cultural phenomenon and one of India's most beloved superhero shows, spanning over 450 episodes.