India’s pioneering superhero is set to make a remarkable return. Prepare yourselves, fans of Shaktimaan!. On Sunday, Mukesh Khanna, the actor who originally portrayed this legendary character on television, posted an image of Shaktimaan in his timeless red and gold attire on Instagram, accompanied by a message: “It’s Time For Him to RETURN. Our First Indian SUPER TEACHER- SUPER HERO. YES! As darkness and evil loom over today’s youth… It is time for his comeback. He returns with a message. He returns with a lesson. For the current generation. Teaching. Welcome Him. With open arms!!!!! Watch the new teaser.” The teaser, released on the actor’s YouTube channel, features Shaktimaan in a school setting, reviewing sketches of notable Indian revolutionaries such as Chandrasekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, and Subhash Chandra Bose, while singing, “Aazadi ke deewanon ne jung ladhi phir jaanein di, ang ang kat gaye magar anch watan par na ane di…”. The teaser has already garnered over 12,000 likes on Instagram, with many fans expressing their excitement for the return of their beloved childhood hero. One user remarked, “Watching your serials a lot in my childhood made my childhood very memorable,” while another enthusiastically stated, “Proud of our superhero.”
In a recent interview, the seasoned actor conveyed his excitement about donning the Shaktimaan costume once more. He remarked, “This costume is an integral part of my identity… I believe that this character has emerged from within me… My successful portrayal of Shaktimaan stemmed from a deep personal connection… Confidence is the essence of acting. When I am in front of the camera, I lose myself in the moment… I am even more thrilled than anyone else to reprise the role of Shaktimaan. I am continuing the journey I began in 1997, which lasted until 2005. It is important for my work to resonate with audiences in 2027, as the current generation seems to be moving through life without awareness. They need to be encouraged to pause and reflect,” he shared with the news agency. Shaktimaan made its debut as a television series on Doordarshan in 1997, featuring Mukesh Khanna in the lead role, supported by a talented cast that included Kitu Gidwani, Vaishnavi, Surendra Pal, and Tom Alter. The series garnered immense popularity, running for nearly eight years and producing a total of 450 episodes. The character of Shaktimaan is depicted as a superhuman endowed with mystical and supernatural powers, selected by a revered order of sages to fight against the forces of evil in the world.
