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Mukesh Khanna Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth19 June 1958

Age66 Years

BirthplaceMumbai

ProfessionActor, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyBrother - Ved Khanna (elder; actor & producer; died 2018); Sister - Kamal Kapoor (elder; died)

Mukesh Khanna Biography

Mukesh Khanna is an Indian actor and politician best known for his television portrayals of Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharat and the superhero Shaktimaan. AFT

Early life and background

Mukesh Khanna was born on 19 June 1958 in Mumbai and raised in a middle-class family. He completed a B.Sc. and later earned a Master of Laws before pursuing formal acting training at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He attended St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and studied at the same school attended by actors Shakti Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. Khanna’s nationality is Indian and his religious background is Hinduism; he is identified with the Khatri caste.

Career

Khanna began his film career with the 1981 Hindi release Roohi and went on to appear in more than sixty Bollywood films. While his filmography includes commercially successful titles such as Saudagar (1991), Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), Barsaat (1995), Raja (1995) and Hera Pheri (2000) — in which he played Police Inspector Prakash — it was television that made him a household name.

On television he first rose to wide recognition with B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat (1988), where he portrayed Bhishma Pitamah. The role established Khanna as a prominent TV actor; he was only around thirty when cast, and the character became one of the series’ most memorable figures after Lord Krishna. Khanna later created one of India’s earliest on-screen superheroes with Shaktimaan, which aired from 1997 to 2005. The show became a cultural phenomenon for children and families, reportedly generating tens of thousands of letters from viewers in its early episodes and influencing young audiences’ habits and behaviour.

Khanna’s association with the Shaktimaan franchise extended beyond the original series: he produced a telefilm titled Hamara Hero Shaktimaan that aired in 2013, and an animated spin-off, Shaktimaan: The Animated Series, was produced by Reliance Animation in 2011 and later acquired by Discovery Kids in 2017. Other notable television credits include roles in Chandrakanta (1994–1997) and Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha (2002–2003). He has also produced television projects such as Mahayodha, Shaktimaan, Aryamaan – Brahmaand Ka Yodha, Sautela and Hamara Hero Shaktimaan.

Politics and public roles

Khanna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1998 and has campaigned for the party in elections. He has described politicians he admires, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, though he has also voiced criticism of political choices at times. In April 2015 he was appointed Chairman of the Children’s Film Society, India by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; he resigned from that post in February 2018.

Khanna runs a production company called Bheeshma Productions and operates acting schools in Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra and Chandigarh. He has maintained a personal code about the kinds of roles he will accept, stating that he avoids negative characters and takes the moral impact of his screen image seriously.

Public profile

Physically, Khanna is reported to stand around 185 cm (6'1") tall, with black eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. He is unmarried and has stated personal commitments aligned with the celibacy vow his character Bhishma takes on-screen. He is a non-smoker and does not drink alcohol.

Over the years Khanna’s public life has included controversies and public disputes related to statements he has made. He has also been outspoken on the responsibilities of television makers in portraying history and moral themes. His long-running association with family-friendly and children’s content, along with his political activities, have kept him visible beyond his acting work.

Latest updates

In addition to ongoing visibility from re-airings of classic series, Khanna’s Shaktimaan franchise has seen extensions such as the animated series and the 2013 telefilm. He continues to be associated with production and training through his company and acting schools, and he remains an active figure in media and political campaigning.
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Recent Work

Hamara Hero Shaktimaan

A telefilm produced by Mukesh Khanna that aired on the children’s channel Pogo on 30 June 2013.

2013
Shaktimaan: The Animated Series

An animated action series created by Reliance Animation featuring the Shaktimaan franchise; it premiered in December 2011 and its rights were later acquired by Discovery Kids.

2011
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Career Highlights

  1. Portrayed Bhishma Pitamah in B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat (1988)
  2. Created and played the title role in Shaktimaan (1997–2005)
  3. Appeared in over 60 Bollywood films, including Saudagar, Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Hera Pheri
  4. Appointed Chairman of the Children’s Film Society, India (2015–2018)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mukesh Khanna born?

19 June 1958

What is Mukesh Khanna known for?

Actor, Politician

What is Mukesh Khanna’s marital status?

Unmarried