Why the popular TV serial Shaktiman went off air?
A popular 90s TV serial was powerful and every child was desperate to watch it. Not only children but people from all walks of life were waiting to watch this serial but suddenly why this serial stopped and let’s know the original cause. This serial started broadcasting on Doordarshan from 13 December 1997. After that, this serial continued for about eight years till 2005. This serial was produced by Mukesh Khannar himself. The serial became so popular that no telecast of the serial was made during the lockdown. And the re-telecast also received a remarkable response from the audience.
Mukesh Khanna said in an interview that ever since the popularity of the serial increased, Doordarshan started asking him for extra money as broadcast expenses. The cost to make this serial when it aired on Saturdays and Tuesdays was Rs 7.50 lakhs. After 104 episodes, telecast also started on Sundays. Then broadcasting three days a week was costing more than Rs 10 lakh which Mukesh could never afford. But the biggest problem was when Shaktiman crossed 350 episodes, Doordarshan wanted a fee of Rs 16 lakh. Mukesh felt that he would face losses if telecasted for so much money and so he was forced to stop such a popular serial midway which he still regrets.
There have been very few instances in the history of Indian films or TV serials that such a popular serial which today’s generation can’t even imagine had to be stopped midway only because they couldn’t afford to telecast it on Doordarshan. Because for those born in the 90s, Shaktiman is just as relevant today as it was 25 years ago.
