I’m sure you remember Shaktimaan, beta ji. So strong, so wise, so pure and pious. What changed? I can’t figure out why Shaktimaan ji aka Mukesh Khanna suddenly went off the rails. I understand unclehood comes with certain expectations but inko itna exceed nahi karna tha. Here’s why I think Mukesh Khanna needs a dose of buddhi more than shakti right now.

Why so obsessed with Shaktimaan?

Yes, Shaktimaan was great. It created a whole genre of memories for 90s kids. But almost 30 years later, it may be time to let it stay in memories only. Why do we need to keep making videos about it that no one asked for?

Taunting people for not knowing every single thing about religion

From what I remember, Shaktimaan was never a taanebaaz. Sonakshi Sinha did not know something about the Ramayan when she appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati. It’s fine. But according to Khanna uncle, if your house is named Ramayan and you don’t know every single thing about the Ramayan, your parents have failed to raise you right. My neighbour’s house is called Prem Kutir, but the way they throw chappals at their kids, prem toh nahi sikha rahe apne bachchon ko. Please give a dose of your buddhi here also, Shaktimaan ji.

Telling women to slap abusers is so early 90s

When we didn’t know better, victim-blaming sab karte thay. Now we know better, there are smart people among us who are trying to educate the world and put the onus of crime on the criminal. Mukesh Khanna, however, is still in his Shaktimaan era in more ways than one. According to him, the best way for women to deal with sexual harassment is to just slap the abuser and move on. Why address the actual problem when you can make a career out of slapping, haina? Unequal power dynamics, what’s that?

“How dare a bachcha not wish me?”

This was peak uncle behaviour. Shaktimaan ji was very hurt when Kapil Sharma did not wish him at an award show. Chalo, beizzati feel hui so hui. Usko advertise karna zaroori hai? I’ll ask you only, bachche. If a younger bachcha did not wish you, are you really going to chase after him wagging a finger accusingly? Or will you hold on to your self-respect and never talk about it again? I think the latter, no? Yahaan toh national news ban gayi for no good reason.

I used to really like Shaktimaan, beta ji. And I have to say I’m not minding the entertainment that Khanna ji is giving us for free these days. But kabhi kabhi zyada ho jaata hai. I wish Shaktimaan had evolved to be a bit more Buddhimaan.

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