New Delhi: Shaktimaan is set to make a comeback, but not all fans are impressed. Actor Mukesh Khanna will reprise his role as the iconic superhero that took India by storm in the 1990s and early 2000s. The 66-year-old’s announcement has the industry divided, with many fans calling him ‘senior citizen Shaktimaan’.
According to trade analyst Sumit Kadel, it shows faith in Khanna’s legacy. After all, Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man is touching 60. But it’s a risk that might not pay off.
“He is retired and isn’t relevant today,” film critic Ramesh Bala told ThePrint. “They [producers] might go for de-ageing, good VFX and CGI – that’s the only way this project can come through.”
However, Bala also highlighted how Hollywood clings to its ageing superheroes. Hugh Jackman may be a decade younger than Khanna, but shows no sign of retiring Wolverine. Moreover, EON Productions changes James Bond every 20 years, he stressed.
“India has the likes of Rajinikanth who stay relevant even today with their action sequences,” Bala said. According to Sumit Kadel, “if Amitabh Bachchan can play the role of Ashwatthama in Kalki (2024), then (Mukesh) Khanna could do the same.” In Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, Bachchan lifted huge rocks and defeated the much younger Bhairava (Prabhas) in one-on-one combat.
‘Fulfilling a responsibility’
Shaktimaan ruled Indian television by taking on the bad guys with his superhuman strength. His signature move was to raise his hand, spin and teleport. Produced by Mukesh Khanna and directed by Dinkar Jani, the series aired on DD National from 13 September 1997 to 27 March 2005.
A majority of fans on social media, like Bala, are of the view that such roles need actors with a “good body who can nail action sequences”. While the names of Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and even John Abraham have been suggested, people are mostly worried about a reprisal ruining their memories.
“Bhai, please don’t ruin Shaktiman nostalgia,” a user wrote on X. Another said, “Childhood memories ruined” while sharing a clip of Khanna in Shaktimaan’s costume.
Reviving the icon he first played in ’97, the actor is ready to inspire today’s generation as well.
“I am very happy about becoming Shaktimaan again. I am fulfilling a responsibility that started in 1997 and continued till 2005. I think that my work should reach the public in 2027 because today’s generation is running helter-skelter,” he told ANI.
This announcement comes weeks after Khanna stated that Ranveer Singh was “not fit” to play Shaktimaan, in light of rumours that the latter would reprise the iconic superhero on TV.
“That poor guy (Ranveer Singh) was sitting in front of me for three hours. But it doesn’t reflect on his face, what it needs to play Shaktimaan. He looks fickle as if he will con somebody. But he is a terrific actor,” said Khanna in an interview.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)