Robin Bhuyan 

Mukesh Khanna is a name that used to be hugely popular in the 1990s. After playing the role of Bheesm in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, the actor earned immense fame, especially among youngsters of the time, for his portrayal of the iconic role of Shaktimaan, which aired from 1997 to 2005. Shaktimaan often received the title of India’s first superhero, and gained huge popularity and appreciation, not just for providing entertainment, but also for popularizing Yoga and moral values amongst the young population. The show eventually stopped airing in 2005, but in 2013, Mukesh Khanna reprised his role of Shaktimaan in a television film called Humara Hero Shaktimaan. Ever since then, Mukesh Khanna had stated several times about the possible revival of the show, and even a possible film based on Shaktimaan. Although, he stated several times that Shaktimaan would be “Coming Soon”, till 2022 there was no progress or update on this matter.

In early 2022, things took a turn when a teaser was released for a big budget Shaktimaan movie, which would be produced by Sony. This left fans excited about the potential revival of their beloved Indian superhero. However, for nearly three years, there has been no significant update regarding the project, causing some fans to feel disconnected and doubtful about its release​. Although there was a news this year that Ranveer Singh has been signed for the project, later Mukesh Khanna clarified that someone “with the image of Ranveer Singh”, would never be fit for the role. Even though Ranveer Singh himself came to Khanna’s office, and requested him multiple times for the role, Khanna refused.

Despite any lack of update on the film, Mukesh Khanna has still managed to stay in the limelight over the last 5-6 years, especially through his Youtube channel called Bheesm International. He has openly endorsed the BJP, and has created controversy several times by making bizarre and inflammatory statements, especially against other actors and performers of the Hindi film industry.

More recently, Khanna made headlines after he hosted a press conference to promote the Season 2 of Shaktimaan. However, soon it seemed that it was more of a publicity stunt, as there is no second season of Shaktimaan coming, but rather, Mukesh Khanna would be releasing a series of songs on Youtube to inspire patriotism and moral values among “today’s spoilt youth”.

The event, however, sparked a lot of mockery, outrage and controversy. At the press conference, Khanna made several remarks that were seen as unwarranted. provocative and controversial, thus earning him a lot of backlashes. He named actors such as Tiger Shroff and Ranveer Singh, and explained how today’s actors “don’t fit the image of Shaktimaan”. Numerous Youtubers have created videos criticizing, mocking and degrading Mr Khanna, calling him another attention seeker, who is still stuck in the 90s. Many stated how he is ruining his own legacy through his own senseless statements and actions. He has been labelled as egoistic and arrogant, and many has wondered why Mukesh Khanna refuses to let go of the Shaktimaan costume. Many have stated that he looks like a clown rather than an actual superhero in the costume, and it is time that he chooses another actor to carry forward his legacy.

Here, rather than criticizing the actor, we shall take a look at seven possible reasons why Mukesh Khanna is unwilling to let go of Shaktimaan, from a balanced perspective.

The Search for a Perfect Successor

One main reason behind Khanna’s refusal to let go of the Shaktimaan costume possibly comes from his desire to find the perfect actor to carry on the legacy. He wants someone who isn’t just a strong on-screen presence but also adheres to the same values that Shaktimaan embodies—perhaps even practicing Brahmacharya in real life​!

Given the high moral standards he set for the character, it is challenging to find a successor who fits this role perfectly, particularly in an industry where personal lives hugely differ from on-screen roles.

The Weight of Responsibility

Shaktimaan is not just a superhero; he’s a role model who teaches children important lessons about ethics and morality, as well as the power of Yoga. For Khanna, passing on the role to someone who may not fully understand or respect this responsibility could risk corrupting the character’s image. Unlike other superheroes, Shaktimaan was crafted to guide youth in matters of righteousness, and Khanna may fear that the wrong actor might fail to live up to this legacy​, which can ruin his years of hard work.

Ego and Fear of Losing Control

Over the years, Mukesh Khanna has earned a reputation for his stubbornness and strong ego, which could explain his reluctance to relinquish the Shaktimaan costume. It is possible that there is a fear inside him that if a popular actor like Ranveer Singh were to take over, Shaktimaan might become more associated with Singh than with him​.

This concern is due to the reason that he has made significant personal investment in the character, both in terms of his acting career and his public identity. And an actor, that too one who doesn’t fit into the role as per Mr Khanna, might completely put an end to, or take away, the legacy he tried so hard to create.

The Role That Defined His Career

For Mukesh Khanna, Shaktimaan was not just another role—it was the defining moment of his career. While he is also remembered for his role as Bheeshma in Mahabharata, that was more of a supporting role, unlike Shaktimaan, which was not just his own show, but also his moment in the spotlight. The show was built around his character, and he seems to have a feel a sense of complete ownership over it, making it hard to let go.

The kind of attachment he has for Shaktimaan is shown by how he chooses to interview Shaktimaan in his Youtube channel. Basically, he was interviewing himself! This kind of attachment is further complicated by the fact that no other role has had the same impact on Khanna’s career​.

The Fear of Diluting the Legacy

Khanna might also be holding onto the role out of a deep fear that any new adaptation of Shaktimaan could dilute the essence of the original TV show. The teaser from 2022 generated excitement, but with no updates since then, and from Khanna’s own controversial public appearances, it’s clear that there are many more hurdles left to overcome. He may worry that future adaptations, whether they feature him or another actor, could fail to capture the Yogic values and moral teachings that made Shaktimaan so unique​.

Emotional Attachment and Pride 

Mukesh Khanna’s emotional attachment to Shaktimaan runs deep, and it is rooted in the immense pride he feels for creating such a groundbreaking character for Indian television. Due to the fact that Shaktimaan was India’s first superhero that gained so much attention, and it was a character firmly rooted on Indian tradition and yogic sciences, Khanna takes immense pride in that achievement. His connection to the character is so strong that it may be impossible for him to consider a life without it. Additionally, the nostalgia surrounding Shaktimaan keeps him in the public eye and admiration, which further makes him unwilling to move on.

His Public Identity Is Tied to Shaktimaan

Khanna’s public persona is linked to Shaktimaan. Beyond his acting career, he has become a cultural figure due to his portrayal of the character. Since Khanna has not been able to (or maybe not willing to) appear in another impactful role, his identity is closely tied to this single role of Shaktimaan. This makes it nearly impossible for him to envision a future without it. Despite the mockery surrounding his recent press conference and song release, the fact remains that Shaktimaan is his most recognizable and lasting contribution to Indian television​, and he is still unwilling to let go!

As we can see, Khanna’s unwillingness to let go seems to be driven not just by pride, but also a mix of responsibility and a fear of losing his long legacy. Since audiences have not seen any other actor in this role, it is true that no one can embody Shaktimaan the way he has done. However, it seems that Khanna’s ego and refusal to pass the torch itself will come in the way of his long-held dream of releasing a big budget Shaktimaan film! Will we even see the film?? Only time will tell! Maybe instead of being so overly attached to the character of Shaktimaan, he should just take it as another character and another role??