The campaign was conceptualized and executed by Pocket FM’s in-house creative team.
Shaktimaan Returns campaign Featuring Sania Mirza and Shikhar Dhawan
Pocket FM has dropped a playful banter video that’s already keeping the social media abuzz, featuring Sania Mirza and Shikhar Dhawan in a humorous, slice-of-life exchange about comebacks, nostalgia, and the return of India’s most loved superhero, Shaktimaan, with ‘Shaktimaan Returns’.
The fun social banter opens with Sania scrolling through her phone before dialing “Gabbar,” aka Shikhar Dhawan, leading to a playful conversation about comebacks, age, and ambition. Shikhar, seen getting ready in his cricket gear, claims he’s preparing for his ‘international comeback,’ while Sania teases him with a quip ‘Iss umar mein?’ What follows is an easy exchange full of wit, self-awareness, and nostalgia, ending with both acknowledging that some comebacks are meant only for superheroes.
The dialogue between the two feels spontaneous, with Sania and Shikhar’s natural chemistry adding warmth and humour to the script. The punchline comes when they introduce Shaktimaan Returns, the reboot of India’s most iconic superhero story, now streaming exclusively and free for all users on Pocket FM, voiced by OG Shaktimaan himself, Mukesh Khanna.
Loading ...Pocket FM’s idea of pairing Sania and Shikhar for the video feels deliberate yet fresh, with two sports legends reflecting on legacy and reinvention while connecting it to one of India’s most nostalgic characters. The film balances humour with heart, reminding audiences how pop culture, sports, and storytelling often share the same spirit of resilience and nostalgia.
Speaking about the campaign, Vineet Singh, SVP and Head – Brand Marketing, Pocket FM, said, “This campaign is rooted in nostalgia but told with a modern attitude. Shaktimaan is part of our shared cultural memory. We wanted to bring that sentiment alive through two icons who represent resilience, self-belief, and the thrill of comebacks. Sania and Shikhar naturally embody that spirit. The humour and simplicity of their exchange makes the nostalgia relatable again, like a reminder that heroes, whether real or fictional, never really go away. They just find new ways to return.”
