May 17, 2025: James Gunn’s upcoming Superman reboot has already ignited widespread excitement, but Indian fans have noticed something quite unexpected — a striking similarity to a storyline from the 90s Indian superhero series, Shaktimaan.
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The official trailer for Superman, starring David Corenswet as the titular hero and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, was released on May 15. While global audiences focused on its cinematic visuals and bold new direction, Indian viewers were quick to draw parallels between Superman’s narrative and an iconic Shaktimaan episode.
In the trailer, Lois Lane questions Superman about his controversial actions, saying, “You’ve come under a lot of fire…” Superman responds, “My actions? I stopped a war!” The trailer then shows Superman entering a conflict zone without official clearance, raising tensions with the authorities. Ultimately, he’s seen in handcuffs, facing public and political backlash for his unapproved intervention.
That’s when the déjà vu hit — Indian netizens pointed out that a similar scene played out decades ago in Shaktimaan, India’s most beloved homegrown superhero show. In episode 114, Shaktimaan stops a bank robbery and apprehends the culprits, only to be interrogated by police officials. The questions range from whether he has a flying license to who gives him the authority to fight crime — a comic yet deeply satirical take on bureaucratic red tape and superhero accountability.
One viral post on Instagram joked, “James Gunn copied the storyline from Shaktimaan episode 114,” sparking a flurry of comments. “This is perfect 😂,” wrote one user. “Now I understand why every superhero hides their identity,” another quipped. Many praised Shaktimaan for being “way ahead of its time.”
Others pushed back, pointing out that Shaktimaan itself drew inspiration from Western superhero tropes, including Superman. “Shaktimaan copied Superman episodes. It hurt when I found out, but I still loved the show,” said one nostalgic fan. Another noted, “And Shaktimaan was also influenced by Lois & Clark — the irony!”
While the similarities could very well be coincidental or reflect common storytelling tropes about the moral dilemmas of vigilante justice, the comparison has certainly brought Shaktimaan back into the spotlight.
📌 About the Film
Superman, directed by James Gunn, will mark the first chapter in the new DC Universe. The film is set to release in July 2025 and explores the dual identity of Clark Kent/Superman as he tries to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing.