Did Shaktimaan Steal His Costume from a 90s WWE Wrestler?
Online community speculates Mukesh Khanna allegedly seized Shaktimaan costume from WWE athlete: "Apology to self is necessary"
There's a buzz on the internet that Shaktimaan's iconic costume could've been inspired by 90s WWE wrestler Chaparita Asari! Some clever sleuth, @thecaoticdjay, unearthed a 1995 wrestling match where Asari donned a costume eerily similar to the one Mukesh Khanna sported as Shaktimaan, two years later.
The match, part of WWF's Monday Night Raw, aired in December 1995, with Aja Kong defeating Chaparita Asari. Asari's new costume was a red overall suit with golden armbands and shoulder pads, adorned with a sunburst-like emblem. Fast forward to 1997, and Mukesh Khanna was decked out in a costume strikingly similar to Asari's.
The internet hasn't held back, accusing Khanna of nicking the Shaktimaan costume from Asari herself. "Mukesh Khanna stole the Shaktimaan costume from 1995 WWF women's wrestler Chaparita Asari," @thecaoticdjay tweeted, sharing a side-by-side comparison. Instagram users chimed in, commenting on the shocking resemblance. "This is 100% copied," one user noted.
Shaktimaan, a staple in Indian television history, remains one of the most iconic shows. Created and directed by Mukesh Khanna and Dinker Jani, the superhero show aired on Doordarshan from 1997 to 2005, spawning merchandise, comic books, an animated series, and a reboot. However, amidst this revival, the debate continues, leaving fans questioning the originality behind one of India's favorite superheroes.
[Caution: Sarcasm Alert] To be fair, Asari-inspired design wasn't one of a kind. After all, who hasn't looked at a superhero costume and thought, "That'd look awesome on my waist!"? [Wink, wink.]
- WWE
- Mukesh Khanna
- Mukesh Khanna, the creator and actor of the iconic Indian superhero show Shaktimaan, debuted in a costume reminiscent of a 90s WWE wrestler, Chaparita Asari.
- The entertainment policy in India allowed for the production of Shaktimaan, a show that gained popularity due to its movies-and-tv genre and the charm of its main character.
- Asari's unique costume, which included a red overall suit with golden armbands and a sunburst-like emblem, was surprisingly similar to the one Mukesh Khanna wore as Shaktimaan, sparking controversy in the entertainment world.
- Following the airing of a 1995 WWE Monday Night Raw match where Asari wore her costume, Shaktimaan premiered in 1997, causing questions about potential plagiarism in the design of the superhero's outfit.
- In the entertainment industry, there are ongoing debates about the originality behind some beloved characters, with Shaktimaan now under scrutiny due to his resemblance to a WWE wrestler.
- Despite Shaktimaan's ripple effect in Indian entertainment, with merchandise, comic books, an animated series, and a reboot, the lingering question about the costume's origins casts a shadow over one of India's most celebrated superheroes.
