There’s a piece of good news for all the 90s kids out there!
India’s first superman ‘Shaktiman’ is getting a screen outing. The popular 1990s show will be adapted for the big screen, Sony Pictures India announced on Thursday and shared the first teaser as well.
The show featured actor Mukesh Khanna as superhero Shaktiman. Khanna had produced and directed the show as well which was a rage among kids back in the ’90s. Khanna will co-produce the new film.
“After the super success of our many superhero films in India and all over the globe, it’s time for our desi Superhero,” a tweet read on the official Twitter page of Sony Pictures India. The announcement was made via video, teasing Gangadhar’s iconic specs, his camera and finally the big reveal: the costume of Shaktimaan.
The one-minute video shows a glimpse of the earth and then a busy street. It’s followed by the words, “As darkness and evil prevail over humanity, it’s time for him to return. And soon, the Shaktimaan symbol comes up and we get a glimpse of our superhero. While the face of Shaktimaan is not revealed, makers do give a sneak peek of the ‘most popular and loved superhero’. The costume and physique of the ‘people’s hero’ seem to have evolved and match up to the many action stars on screen.
Sony Pictures International Productions, in a statement, shared that they have acquired the film adaptation rights of Shaktimaan to reimagine it as a superhero trilogy for the big screen. The film’s cast has not been announced yet and the director’s name is yet to be finalized.
According to the makers, the film will be headlined by “one of India’s superstars”.
Shaktimaan launched in September 1997 on Doordarshan and successfully aired for eight years. It was conceptualized by Mukesh Khanna, who played the titular role after he saw kids in his family watching superhero shows on the television. Considering that the show keeps on being cherished by fans, the team is positive that the film will warm up the Indian superhero space and become a worldwide accomplishment from India.
