Mukesh Khanna: 'I am the biggest obstacle to Shaktimaan's return'
Synopsis
Mukesh Khanna has done something rare in Bollywood — he has pointed the finger squarely at himself. The actor behind Shaktimaan says he is personally blocking the superhero's return, even as he insists the character is more necessary than ever for today's generation. The revival was reportedly ready to roll before COVID-19 hit; what is holding it back now is Khanna himself.
Key Takeaways
Mukesh Khanna publicly admitted he is 'the biggest hand in stopping Shaktimaan's return.' The revival was reportedly on course before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans.
Khanna said Shaktimaan has been in people's hearts for 30 years and is ' 10 times more necessary' for today's children.
He spoke at an event in New Delhi on Thursday, 27 August .
No confirmed timeline for the revival has been announced.
Actor Mukesh Khanna has openly admitted that he himself is the primary reason why the beloved Indian superhero Shaktimaan has not made a comeback — a candid confession that has reignited public interest in one of Indian television's most iconic characters.
What Khanna Said
Speaking at an event in New Delhi on Thursday, Khanna reflected on the enduring legacy of the character and the emotional weight it carries. 'I want to see Shaktimaan again. Shaktimaan is not gone. Shaktimaan has been in people's hearts for 30 years. A whole generation has grown up seeing Shaktimaan. A whole generation has got married, and have children. I am happy that this is a way that people look up to the character. So I want to share the happiness with people,' he said.
On the stalled revival, he was equally direct: 'It should happen, but it is not allowed to happen. The biggest hand in stopping Shaktimaan is mine, I cannot deny this because I am stuck. Otherwise, this was going to start before Corona.'
Why the Revival Has Been Delayed
Khanna did not elaborate on the specific contractual or creative disputes causing the impasse, but his remarks confirm that the delay is not due to a lack of audience demand or commercial interest. The planned return was reportedly on track before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted production timelines across the Indian entertainment industry. This is the first time Khanna has so explicitly placed the responsibility on himself.
Shaktimaan's Cultural Relevance Today
Khanna argued that the superhero is more relevant now than ever, particularly for younger audiences. 'Shaktimaan is 10 times more necessary in today's children. They don't listen to anyone. They will listen to Shaktimaan,' he said. He also used the platform to address what he described as a generational disconnect from family and community values, urging young people to prioritise real-world relationships over social media.
The Shaktimaan Legacy
Originally aired on Doordarshan from 1997, Shaktimaan remains one of the longest-running and most-watched Indian superhero shows. Khanna has consistently maintained creative control over the character, which has historically made any revival negotiation complex. The show's return has been discussed publicly for several years, with fan campaigns periodically resurging on social media.
Whether Khanna's self-acknowledged block can be resolved — and whether a new version of Shaktimaan will reach the screens — remains an open question, but Thursday's remarks suggest the conversation is far from over.
Point of View
Where blame is diffuse and negotiations are opaque. By naming himself as the obstacle, he has shifted the public conversation — but also raised the stakes for resolution. The Shaktimaan revival has been 'almost happening' for the better part of a decade, and each near-miss erodes the goodwill that nostalgia alone cannot sustain indefinitely. If Khanna genuinely believes the character is urgently needed for a new generation, the more pressing question is what, specifically, is keeping him stuck — and whether that can be resolved before the cultural moment passes entirely.
NationPress
28 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Shaktimaan not returned to television?
Actor Mukesh Khanna, who plays the iconic superhero, has admitted that he himself is the primary obstacle to the revival. He said the show was set to return before the COVID-19 pandemic but remains stalled due to his own reservations, without specifying the exact nature of the dispute.
Was a Shaktimaan revival actually planned?
Yes. Khanna confirmed that a return of the show was in progress before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans. He has not provided a new timeline for when or whether the revival will proceed.
What did Mukesh Khanna say about the new generation and Shaktimaan?
Khanna said Shaktimaan is '10 times more necessary' for today's children, arguing that the character carries moral authority that young audiences would respond to. He also urged younger people to prioritise real relationships over social media.
How long has Shaktimaan been a part of Indian pop culture?
Shaktimaan originally aired on Doordarshan from 1997 and has been part of Indian popular culture for over 30 years. Khanna noted that entire generations have grown up watching the show and many now have children of their own.
Who controls the rights to the Shaktimaan character?
Mukesh Khanna has historically maintained significant creative control over the Shaktimaan character, which has made revival negotiations complex. He has not publicly disclosed the specific contractual or creative terms causing the current impasse.
