Superman (1987): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1987, Superman is an action, adventure and science fiction film directed by B. Gupta, running about 124 minutes. “The Indian Superman” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. In this Indian take on the classic superhero story, a young baby from the doomed planet Krypton is sent to Earth, where he is adopted by an elderly couple in India who name him Shekhar. After growing to an adult and learning about his origins and powers, he goes to the city in search of his school sweetheart, Gita, who has become a newpaper reporter. At the same time, Verma, Shekhar's rival for Gita's affection in their school days, has gone on to become a crime lord and general super-villain. Verma has hatched at plan to become rich by devastating part of India with natural disasters, then buying up all of the abandoned land. Will Superman/Shekhar be able to put a stop to Verma's evil plan? Will he win Gita's heart? Will he keep his double identity a secret?

Who’s in it. Superman stars Puneet Issar as Superman / Shekhar, Shakti Kapoor as Verma, Dharmendra and Ashok Kumar, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 4.1/10, Superman has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Superman page.

If you liked it. Fans of Superman tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.