Mukesh Khanna is an Indian film and television actor best known for portraying Bhishma in the Doordarshan television series Mahabharat (1988–1990) and for playing the title role in the long-running superhero series Shaktimaan. He has worked predominantly in Hindi cinema and television since the early 1980s and is regarded as one of the recognisable faces of Indian television's formative era.
Key Facts
| Name | Mukesh Khanna |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actor, producer |
| Active years | Since the early 1980s |
| Notable role (TV) | Bhishma in Mahabharat (1988–1990) |
| Iconic role | Title character in Shaktimaan |
| Training | Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune |
| Production banner | Bhishma International |
| Language of work | Hindi |
Background
Mukesh Khanna trained as an actor at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, an institution that has produced several prominent Hindi film actors. After completing his training, he moved to Mumbai to pursue acting in Hindi cinema and gradually shifted to television, the medium in which he attained widespread popularity.
Career
Film work
Khanna began his career with supporting and character roles in Hindi films during the 1980s. He appeared in productions alongside leading actors of the period, often playing authoritative or upright characters. While he continued to take on film roles intermittently, his primary recognition came through television.
Mahabharat (1988–1990)
Khanna's portrayal of Bhishma Pitamah in B. R. Chopra's televised adaptation of the Mahabharat, broadcast on Doordarshan from 1988 to 1990, brought him nationwide fame. The serial drew very large weekend audiences across India and remains a reference point for mythological storytelling on Indian television. His grave, deep-voiced performance as the celibate patriarch became one of the show's defining images.
Shaktimaan
In the late 1990s, Khanna conceived and starred in Shaktimaan, an Indian superhero television series broadcast on Doordarshan. He played the title character — a yogic superhero with powers derived from concentration of cosmic energy — and the mild-mannered photographer Gangadhar. The series became extremely popular among children and teenagers and is often cited as India's first major homegrown superhero franchise. Khanna also produced the show under his banner, Bhishma International. Shaktimaan spawned merchandise, comics, and later attempts at revival in animated and feature formats.
Other television and later work
Khanna has appeared in other television projects, including Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yoddha, and has lent his voice to narration and animation. He has remained involved in writing, producing, and public commentary on Indian television and culture.
Public roles
Khanna served as the chairman of the Children's Film Society, India (CFSI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that produces and promotes films for children. In this role he engaged with policy and content directions for children's cinema in India.
Timeline
- Early 1980s: Begins acting career in Hindi films after training at FTII, Pune.
- 1988–1990: Plays Bhishma in B. R. Chopra's Mahabharat on Doordarshan.
- 1997 onwards: Stars as Shaktimaan in the eponymous superhero series on Doordarshan.
- 2000s: Continues with television roles and produces content under Bhishma International.
- Later years: Heads the Children's Film Society, India; remains active as a public commentator and producer.
Significance
Khanna's career bridges two formative phases of Indian television — the mythological serial boom of the late 1980s and the rise of original Indian television franchises in the 1990s. His Bhishma is among the most widely remembered characterisations from Mahabharat, while Shaktimaan established a template for indigenous superhero entertainment aimed at Indian children, distinct from imported Western models. Both roles have given him enduring recognition across generations of Indian viewers.