Mukesh Khanna - Biography, Age, Career, Family, Net Worth

Profile Summary

Table Of Content

• Biography 
• Age  
• Education
• Family
• Career
• Best Works Of Mukesh Khanna 
• Career Timeline
• Awards
• Controversy
• Net Worth
• Interesting Facts
• How to Book a Similar Celebrity Like Mukesh Khanna on Tring?

Biography 

Mukesh Khanna, born on 23rd June 1958, is an Indian actor, talk show host, and producer who primarily works in Hindi language films and television shows. He is widely recognized for his iconic portrayals in Indian television. One of his most notable roles was as Shaktimaan , the superhero character in the television series Shaktimaan (1997–2005), which he created himself. Another significant role that earned him immense popularity was as Bhishma in BR Chopra's epic television series Mahabharat (1988–1990). Besides, he also made appearances in the television show Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara (2012–2013).

Khanna's contributions extended beyond acting as he served as the chairman of Children's Film Society India for a period. However, he resigned from this position in February 2018. In addition to his acting and chairmanship roles, Mukesh Khanna is known for being the founder and director of an entertainment company named Bheeshm International. Presently, he is running The Mukesh Khanna Show on his personal YouTube channel, which is named Bheeshm International.

Age

Mukesh Khanna was born on 23rd June 1958. As of 2023, he is 65 years old. His zodiac sign is Cancer.

Education

Mukesh Khanna attended the same school as renowned actors Shakti Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. He pursued his higher education at St. Xavier's College in Mumbai. Subsequently, he enrolled at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. Mukesh Khanna holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and a Master of Laws qualification. Additionally, he completed an acting course at FTII, refining his skills in the art of acting.

Family

Mukesh Khanna's parents' names are not known. He had two siblings, an elder brother named Ved Khanna, who was an actor and producer, but unfortunately, he passed away in 2018. Mukesh Khanna also had an elder sister named Kamal Kapoor, who tragically succumbed to lung disease after recovering from COVID-19 just a few days earlier.

Career

Mukesh Khanna is widely recognized as one of the most prominent faces in Indian television. He gained immense fame for his portrayal of 'Bhishma Pitamah' in the epic television show Mahabharat produced by B. R. Chopra. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the first on-screen superhero of India, known for his iconic character 'Shaktimaan.'

Starting with his debut in the 1981 Hindi film Roohi, Khanna went on to appear in over 60 Bollywood films throughout his career. His first film break was reportedly given by theatre director Narinder Bedi in the movie Khooni, but due to Bedi's untimely demise, the film was shelved.

Mukesh Khanna's portrayal of 'Bhishma Pitamah' in Mahabharat earned him immense popularity, making the character the second most beloved one in the series after Lord Krishna, played by Nitish Bharadwaj. Apart from Mahabharat and Shaktimaan, Khanna has been part of several other popular television shows, including Chandrakanta (1994-1997), where he played the role of Janbaaz/Meghawat, and Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha (2002-2003), where he portrayed the character of Aryamaan/Ojwan. Notably, he has also produced several television projects, such as Mahayodha, Shaktimaan, Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha, Sautela, and Hamara Hero Shaktimaan.

Besides his successful acting career, Mukesh Khanna is also involved in politics. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1998 and actively campaigned for the party in various elections across the country

In his film journey, while he faced several film flops, he also appeared in a few successful ventures, including movies like Saudagar (1991), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Barsaat (1995), Raja (1995), and Hera Pheri (2000), in which he played the role of 'Police Inspector Prakash.'

Best Works Of Mukesh Khanna 

Shaktimaan

PlayShaktimaan is a popular Indian Hindi-language superhero television show created by Mukesh Khanna. It aired on DD National from 13 September 1997 to 27 March 2005, making it one of the most beloved and longest-running television series in India. The show was later dubbed and broadcast on various other Indian TV channels in different languages, including Tamil on DD Podhigai and Odia on Tarang.

In the show, Mukesh Khanna, who also served as the producer, played the titular character, Shaktimaan, as well as his alter ego, Pandit Gangadhar Vidhyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri, a photographer for the newspaper Aaj Ki Aawaz. Shaktimaan is portrayed as a human who gains superhuman abilities through meditation and harnessing the five elements of nature: Space, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Kitu Gidwani (later replaced by Vaishnavi Mahant) portrayed Geeta Vishwas, a reporter who admires and loves Shaktimaan, and Surendra Pal played the role of the antagonist, Tamraj Kilvish.

Mukesh Khanna received praise for his portrayal of Shaktimaan, and his performance garnered attention even from prominent political figures. He received letters of appreciation from the External Affairs Minister and then Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, acknowledging his commendable work in choosing the role of Shaktimaan and its positive impact on children. 

Mahabharat

Mahabharat is an Indian Hindi-language epic television series based on the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. The show originally consisted of 94 episodes and aired from 2nd October 1988 to 24th June 1990 on Doordarshan. It was produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by his son, Ravi Chopra. The music for the series was composed by Raj Kamal. The script was written by Pandit Narendra Sharma and the Hindi/Urdu poet Rahi Masoom Raza, based on Vyasa's epic.

The costumes for the series were provided by Maganlal Dresswala. The show claims to have used the Critical Edition of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute as its primary source, with Vishnu Sitaram Sukthankar and Shripad Krishna Belwalkar as its primary editors.

Each episode is 40–46 minutes long and starts with a title song containing lyrical content and two verses from the Bhagavad Gita, sung by singer Mahendra Kapoor. Following the title song, Indian voice artist Harish Bhimani narrates as a personification of Time, detailing the current circumstances and highlighting the spiritual significance of the episode's content.

Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara 

Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara is an Indian Hindi-language romantic drama television series produced by Rajshri Productions. It aired on Star Plus from 18th June 2012 to 1st November 2014. The show featured Disha Parmar and Nakuul Mehta in the lead roles as Pankhuri Gupta Kumar and Aditya Kumar, respectively. The series followed their love story and the challenges they faced in their relationship, making it a popular choice among viewers during its run on the channel.

Saugandh

Saugandh is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language romantic action film directed by Raj N. Sippy. It marks the film debut of Akshay Kumar as a leading actor. The movie also features Shantipriya in her Hindi debut. The film revolves around romance and action, presenting an engaging story that captivated audiences during its release.

Career Timeline

Television

Mukesh Khanna's journey in television began with his debut serial Mahabharat, where he portrayed the iconic character of Bhishma from 1988 to 1990. He continued to showcase his acting prowess in various other shows over the years. In 1989, he appeared in Vishwamitra, playing the role of Vishvamitra. In the following year, he portrayed Karamjeet Singh in Chunni.

From 1994 to 1996, Khanna took on the roles of Janbaaz and Meghawat in the series Chandrakanta. He was also seen as Ibrahim Khan Gardi in The Great Maratha. In the mid-1990s, he appeared in Marshall and Saraab, taking on the roles of Marshall and Ajay/Vijay, respectively. During 1996-1998, he was part of the series Yug.

In 1997 and 1998, he played the character of Vijay Verma in Vishwaas. He reprised his role as Bhishma in Mahabharat Katha, the sequel to the original Mahabharat series. Furthermore, Mukesh Khanna ventured into producing, starting with the series Mahayodha in 1997, where he also portrayed the character of Virat.

One of his most iconic roles was that of Shaktimaan, the superhero character he portrayed in the series Shaktimaan from 1997 to 2005. In addition to acting, he took on the role of a producer for the same show.

In 1997 and 1998, he was seen as Rana Sangha in Maharana Pratap – The Pride of India. Later, from 2002 to 2003, he played multiple roles, including Aryamaan, Ojwan, and the narrator, in the series Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha.

He also served as a producer for this show. In 2003, Mukesh Khanna appeared in Deewar as Vikram Singh and in Ehsaas as Digvijay .Mukesh Khanna's legacy as Shaktimaan continued when he reprised the role in the television film Hamara Hero Shaktimaan in 2013, where he also served as a producer. In 2016, he portrayed Lala Pratap Singh Bajwa in the television film Waaris.

 Video Songs

In 2020, Mukesh Khanna released a video titled SHAKTIMAAN Masked with the aim of spreading awareness about Covid-19. The video likely featured his iconic superhero character, Shaktimaan, wearing a mask to emphasize the importance of mask-wearing during the pandemic. In 2021, Mukesh Khanna shared a video titled Shambhu Ki Yaari, which was a bhajan dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Web Series

In the web series domain, Mukesh Khanna has been involved in several projects as both an actor and a producer. In 2019 and 2020, he appeared in Sorry Shaktimaan, where he played a fictionalized version of himself as well as reprised his iconic role as Shaktimaan. Notably, he also served as a producer for this series.

Since 2020, Mukesh Khanna has been hosting and producing The Mukesh Khanna Show. The series likely involves interviews, discussions, and various topics of interest. In 2021, he hosted and produced the web series Kailash Parvat: An Unsolved Mystery. In this series, he might have explored and discussed the mysteries related to the sacred mountain.

Looking ahead to 2023, Mukesh Khanna is set to appear in and produce the web series Hamara Hero Shaktimaan. In this series, he will likely portray the beloved character of Shaktimaan, along with the character of Pandit Gangadhar Vidyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri.

Shaktimaan Returns (2024)

PlayMukesh Khanna, known for his role as Shaktimaan, has announced the character's return to Indian screens, expressing excitement about reprising the iconic role. In an interview, he emphasized his deep connection to Shaktimaan and mentioned that the new series aims to reach today’s generation, which he feels is "running blindly." He shared a teaser showcasing Shaktimaan's return, where the superhero reflects on freedom alongside images of notable freedom fighters. The format of the comeback—whether as a film, TV series, or web series—remains unspecified.

Mukesh Khanna is set to reprise his role as Shaktimaan, with the iconic show making a return. The new series will premiere on November 17, 2024, on the Disney+ Hotstar platform. The teaser hints at a modernized storyline while retaining the essence of the original. Khanna expressed his enthusiasm about bringing Shaktimaan back for both nostalgic fans and a new generation, aiming to instil values and lessons through the character.

Awards

• 2013 - Indian Telly Awards Nominated For Best Actor in a Supporting Role In Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara

Controversy

When Shaktimaan was aired on television, it started receiving reports from across the country that the show was somewhat harmful to children; as they were trying to emulate Shaktimaan's heroic antics and getting themselves injured in the process; leading to their deaths in some cases.

Net Worth

Mukesh Khanna's net worth of $3 million (approximately 22 Crore Indian Rupee) is a result of his highly successful and diverse career in the Indian entertainment industry. He gained widespread recognition and fame for his iconic roles in television shows and films.

Interesting Facts

• Mukesh Khanna had a middle-class upbringing in Mumbai.
• Khanna was just 30 years old when he played the role of Pitamah in Mahabharat.
• Shaktimaan was an instant hit, and wherever Khanna went, children would often gather and request him to show his heroic antics, especially the torpedo flying.
• Khanna has also produced a few television projects, such as Mahayodha, Shaktimaan, Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha, Sautela, and Hamara Hero Shaktimaan.

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