Mahabharat can be considered one of the most famous television mythological programs ever shown in India. This serial based on the Indian epic Mahabharata, which was written by Maharishi Ved Vyasa, gained immense popularity due to the great scriptwriting, amazing actors, high production, and incredible performances. The Cast Of Mahabharat greatly contributed to the success of this series. The names of Saurabh Jain, Mukesh Khanna, Nitish Bharadwaj, Arjun Firoz Khan, Puneet Issar, and Roopa Ganguly became known after the actors delivered outstanding performances as the mythological characters.
The drama narrates about the Kuru dynasty, rivalry of Pandavas and Kauravas, philosophy of Lord Krishna, and the legend of Kurukshetra War.
This article includes the entire cast of Mahabharat, the lead actors, supporting actors, their roles, its release date, production details, and many other important information about it.
Mahabharat Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Name | Mahabharat |
| Based On | Indian Epic Mahabharata |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Mythological Drama |
| Original Network | Doordarshan |
| Director | Ravi Chopra |
| Producer | B.R. Chopra |
| Writers | Pandit Narendra Sharma, Rahi Masoom Raza |
| Original Release | 1988 |
| Total Episodes | 94 Episodes |
| Country | India |
Mahabharat TV series, released in 1988, still stands out to be one of the most successful mythological shows of all time in India, largely due to its excellent narration, emotional acting, and accurate portrayal of characters from the epic.
What is Mahabharat?
Mahabharat is a mythological television show based on the ancient Sanskrit epic, also called Mahabharat.
The epic revolves around two branches of the Kuru clan – the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Their rivalry leads to the great Kurukshetra war.
The show deals with issues such as:
- Dharma and righteousness
- Famine of family
- Politics and power struggle
- Sacrifices and duties
- Loyalty and friendship
It also encompasses the philosophies from Bhagavad Gita told to Arjuna by Lord Krishna.
Full Cast Of Mahabharat
| Actor Name | Character Name | Role Type | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitish Bharadwaj | Lord Krishna | Main Role |  |
| Mukesh Khanna | Bhishma Pitamah | Main Role |  |
| Arjun Firoz Khan | Arjuna | Main Role |  |
| Puneet Issar | Duryodhana | Main Role |  |
| Roopa Ganguly | Draupadi | Main Role |  |
| Gajendra Chauhan | Yudhishthira | Main Role |  |
| Praveen Kumar Sobti | Bhima | Main Role |  |
| Sanjay Jog | Bharata / Bharadwaj Characters | Supporting Role |  |
| Girja Shankar | Dhritarashtra | Supporting Role |  |
| Renuka Israni | Gandhari | Supporting Role |  |
| Harish Bhimani | Voice of Time (Narrator) | Narration |  |
Main Cast Of Mahabharat
Nitish Bharadwaj As Lord Krishna
Nitish Bharadwaj gained immense popularity after starring in Mahabharat as Lord Krishna.
His cool expressions, divine aura, and excellent dialogue delivery made him unforgettable as an actor. He had guided the Pandavas and had given out the message of Bhagavad Gita, hence he was central to the storyline.
Krishna Role In Mahabharat Was One Of The Biggest Milestones In The Acting Career Of Nitish Bharadwaj.
Mukesh Khanna As Bhishma Pitamah
Mukesh Khanna starred as Bhishma Pitamah, who was a very revered warrior of the Kuru dynasty.
Powerful acting performances by Mukesh Khanna portrayed Bhishma’s dedication to his family, his potential, and dedication in safeguarding Hastinapur.
Such a character has gone down as one of the most memorable characters in the Indian television industry.
Arjun Firoz Khan As Arjuna
Arjun Firoz Khan appeared as one of the finest warriors amongst the Pandavas.
He portrayed Arjuna with all his bravery, self-discipline, and devotion to Lord Krishna. His scenes in the Kurukshetra War have been highly appreciated by the audience.
Puneet Issar As Duryodhana
Puneet Issar appeared as the elder Kaurava prince.
Duryodhana is the antagonist character in the entire Mahabharat story but Puneet Issar gave life to the character with immense acting skills and emotions.
This way he made Duryodhana one of the finest villains in the Indian television industry.
Roopa Ganguly As Draupadi
Roopa Ganguly appeared as Draupadi, the wife of the five Pandavas.
Famous Draupadi Cheer Haran episode is among the most emotional episodes which starred Roopa Ganguly.
She became widely popular for her great acting performances and is considered one of the leading actresses in the Indian television industry.
Supporting Cast Of Mahabharat
The supporting cast of Mahabharat played an important role in creating the massive world of the epic story.
| Actor Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Gajendra Chauhan | Yudhishthira |
| Praveen Kumar Sobti | Bhima |
| Girja Shankar | Dhritarashtra |
| Renuka Israni | Gandhari |
| Harish Bhimani | Narrator / Time |
| Dara Singh | Hanuman |
| Sameer Chitre | Nakul |
| Sanjeev Chitre | Sahadeva |
Cast And Character Table Of Mahabharat
| Actor | Character | Character Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nitish Bharadwaj | Lord Krishna | Guide and protector of Pandavas |
| Mukesh Khanna | Bhishma Pitamah | Legendary warrior and Kuru elder |
| Arjun Firoz Khan | Arjuna | Greatest archer among Pandavas |
| Puneet Issar | Duryodhana | Eldest Kaurava prince |
| Roopa Ganguly | Draupadi | Wife of Pandavas |
| Gajendra Chauhan | Yudhishthira | Eldest Pandava known for truth |
| Praveen Kumar Sobti | Bhima | Strongest Pandava warrior |
| Girja Shankar | Dhritarashtra | Blind king of Hastinapur |
| Renuka Israni | Gandhari | Mother of Kauravas |
Director And Production Details
This show is created by the master B.R. Chopra, with direction from his son Ravi Chopra.
This writing team consisted of the renowned writers who gave life to the epic tale as a TV series without changing its essence.
Among its distinctive features:
- Impressive settings
- Extravagant costumes
- Memorable punchlines
- Great acting performances
- Epic battles
Story Overview Of Mahabharat
The story starts with the Kuru Dynasty and discusses the relationship between Pandavas and Kauravas.
Their rivalry comes from the desire to have more power, jealousy, and politics.
After years of conflicts, it all ends with the Kurukshetra war where warriors fight for justice and power.
In addition to that, the series covers the moral teachings of Lord Krishna and the importance of Dharma.
Why is Mahabharat so unique?
Here are the reasons for this show’s uniqueness:
- It’s based on the greatest Indian epic
- The characters became the national heroes
- Its acting performances remained memorable even after many years
- Its dialogues became well-known for the viewers
- It made the mythological story-telling popular among the TV audience
Release Date Of Mahabharat
The original Mahabharat series was aired on Doordarshan for the first time on October 2, 1988.
It continued to air until 1990 and became one of the most popular television serials in India.
Such was its popularity that it was telecast several times thereafter through other channels.
Mahabharat Release On OTT Platform
The ever-popular Mahabharat 1988 has also been available on ZEE5.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Name | Mahabharat |
| Original Release | 1988 |
| Streaming Availability | ZEE5 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Mythological Drama |
Viewers can watch the iconic series through ZEE5 official streaming platforms.
Audience Response To Mahabharat
The series received tremendous appreciation and recognition from across India.
So loved were the characters that many people still refer to the actors as their mythological characters.
Further popularity came about when the series was re-shown during television slots dedicated for it.
Conclusion
Mahabharat remains to date one of the most successful mythological television series ever made in India. The wonderful performances given by the cast Nitish Bharadwaj, Mukesh Khanna, Arjun Firoz Khan, Puneet Issar and Roopa Ganguly will always remain unforgettable.
The success of this show goes beyond entertainment since through it millions of viewers have been able to appreciate the ancient tale of Mahabharat.
After several decades have passed since the time of the series, still the characters, dialogues and performances remain evergreen in the hearts of many.
FAQs About Cast Of Mahabharat
Nitish Bharadwaj played Lord Krishna in 1988 Mahabharat.
Mukesh Khanna played Bhishma Pitamah.
Puneet Issar played Duryodhana.
Roopa Ganguly played Draupadi.
The first series of Mahabharat was released on 2 October 1988.
Mahabharat was directed by Ravi Chopra and produced by B.R. Chopra.
Read More article related to Cast of TV Shows at Castofmedia.com