Ahead Of Shaktimaan's Return, 10 Iconic 90s Shows We Love And Miss

For every 90s kid, Shaktimaan is the original superhero. While the announcement of the Shaktimaan movie has no update, there is some good news for fans. The show is set to return to the screen soon! Actor Mukesh Khanna, who played the titular character in the hit show, recently took to Instagram to share a picture of him wearing the OG Shaktimaan outfit.

He captioned the post with, 'It’s Time For HIM to RETURN. Our First Indian SUPER TEACHER- SUPER HERO. YES ! As Darkness And Evil prevails over Children of Today. Its time for him to return. He returns with a Message. He returns with a Teaching. For today’s generation. Welcome Him. With both hands !!!!!'

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It seems as though every past popular show will get a revival sometime or later, and the 90s offers many great options. As fans are excited about the return of Shaktimaan, here is a list of other 90s shows that are absolute fan favourites: 

Ramayana

The series depicting the life of Lord Rama, aired every Sunday morning from 9:30 am to 10:05 am, and India would stop for those 35 minutes! Streets would be deserted, and trains and buses would stop at nearby stations to watch TV. At home, everyone from the neighbourhood would gather and watch this iconic show together. This Ramanand Sagar version of Ramayana is the most loved version of the popular Hindu mythology.

It originally aired from January 25, 1987 to July 31, 1988, and became one of the most-watched television shows in the world! 33 years later, DD National aired it again during the lockdown, and it again set the world record of being the most-watched show globally!

Mahabharata

BR Chopra’s Mahabharata was equally loved by the audiences. This show became a household name and Roopa Ganguly, who played Draupadi was praised for her performance during the Vastraharana sequence.

Vikram Aur Betal

Starring Arun Govil as Raja Vikramaditya and Sajjan as the ghost Betal, this show was the television adaptation of the stories of Indian Mythology. In each episode, Betal, the ghost narrates a story to King Vikram, and at the end of the story, asks a question. Failure to answer the question would lead to dire consequences. Answering the question right would make Betal go back to the treetop. 

Malgudi Days

Based on RK Narayan’s short story Malgudi Days, the peaceful days of Malgudi, the melodious background tune, the simple yet relatable characters, the giant coconut trees, carts, statues, avenues, shops, bus stands, schools, shops, and the cycles were the backdrop of this popular show. This sitcom was the comfort show for every 90’s and 00’s kid.

Bharat- Ek Khoj

Based on The Discovery Of India by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, it covers a 5,000-year Indian history. Directed by National Awardee Shyam Benegal, this series showcased the rich cultural heritage and history of India. 

Aarohan

Helmed by Pallavi Joshi, this show focused on a make-believe scenario where women could join the Indian Navy. Along with Shefali Shah's Nivedita Sen, Pallavi Joshi's Nikita Sachdev promoted equality and women empowerment through this show. It was truly an eye-opener in the 90s. 

Fauji

Starring Shah Rukh Khan as Lt. Abhimanyu Rai, this sitcom marked his television debut. This series followed the training of the Indian Army regiment. The tasks they were allocated, the pranks they would play, and the punishment they would receive from their higher-ups. 

Byomkesh Bakshi 

Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay created the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi who would solve spine-chilling cases with his friend Ajit Kumar Banerjee. A truth seeker, Bakshi believed in truth rather than law and was titled 'Satyanweshi'. Sushant Singh Rajput also played this detective in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! by Dibakar Banerjee 

Chandrakanta

Chandrakanta was a fantasy series based on the love story of the princess Chandrakanta of Vijaygarh, and the prince Virendra Singh of Naugarh. This series went on to become a blockbuster and had many adaptations over the years. 

Dekh Bhai Dekh

An iconic show, focusing on the three generations of the Diwan family lightheartedly explained the importance of joint family. The playful banter and familial bonds shared between the family members made this show a cult classic.