Old Mahabharat Serial Cast: Mahabharata is an Indian Hindi language historical television series, based on the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. The serial aired on Doordarshan from 2 October 1988 to 24 June 1990 and had a total of 94 episodes. It was produced by the famous producer B.R. Chopra and directed by his son Ravi Chopra. The music of this serial was composed by Raj Kamal.
The script of Mahabharata was written by Pandit Narendra Sharma and Hindi-Urdu poet Rahi Masoom Raza, based on the original epic composed by Ved Vyas. The costumes for this serial were arranged by the famous designer Maganlal Dresswala. The serial makers claim that they have developed it based on the critical edition of Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, whose chief editors were Vishnu Sitaram Sukthankar and Shripad Krishna Belvalkar.
Each episode was about 40 to 46 minutes long and began with the title song. The song had rhythmic vocals, which included two verses from the Bhagavad Gita. The title song was sung by renowned singer Mahendra Kapoor. This was followed by an emotional and deep interpretation by the voice of renowned Indian voice-over artist Harish Bhimani as ‘Kaal’, explaining to the audience the essence of current events and highlighting their spiritual significance.
Mahabharata Katha: Expansion of Untold Stories
In 1997, another part of the epic was telecast as ‘Mahabharata Katha’. This part included stories that were not included in the original series. It included the marriage of Karna and Padmavati, Arjuna’s marriage to Chitrangada and Ulupi, and the untold stories of Ghatotkacha, Barbarika, Vrishketu and Babhruvahana. Apart from this, Viprachitti’s trick, Ashwamedha Yagna, the story of Dushaala and the events after the Mahabharata war were also presented in detail in this series.
Historical and Cultural Impact of Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is not only a religious and historical epic but also a living reflection of Indian culture and traditions. This serial left such an impact on Indian television that it is remembered even today. Its dialogues, depth of characters and spiritual message make it a classic.
The epic still lives in the hearts of the audience and its profound teachings are relevant to today’s generation. This historical presentation of the Mahabharata set a new dimension on Indian television and made it popular all over the world.
Old Mahabharat Serial Cast
Nitish Bharadwaj played the role of Shri Krishna, who is considered to be the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was the son of Devaki and Vasudeva, foster son of Nanda and Yashoda, brother of Balarama and Subhadra, cousin of the Pandavas, nephew of Kansa and grandson of Ugrasena. His lover was Radha, and he was the husband of 16,108 queens including Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Rohini, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra, Lakshmana, whom he freed from Bhaumasura. He also appeared as Ram in the famous song “Sabse Unchi Prem Sagai”.
Kewal Shah played the role of teenage Shri Krishna. Pankaj Dheer played the role of Karna, who was the son of Kunti and Surya, foster son of Adhiratha and Radha, king of Anga Desh and elder brother of the Pandavas. He was the husband of Padmavati and Supriya and father of eight sons including Vrishketu. He was also the great uncle of the Upapandavas, Ghatotkacha, Sutasoma, Abhimanyu, Babruvahana, Iravan, Anjanaparvan, Meghavarana, Barbarika and Parikshit and the great grandfather of Janamejaya. Karna was a close friend of Duryodhana. His teenage role was played by Harendra Paintal.
Mukesh Khanna played Bhishma, the eighth Vasu and son of Shantanu and Ganga. He was Satyavati’s stepson and the elder brother of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Bhishma Pitamah was the uncle of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur and the grandfather of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Teenage Bhishma was played by Krishan Malik.
Gajendra Chauhan played Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas and the son of Kunti and Yamaraj. He became the second eldest son of the Kuru dynasty, the king of Indraprastha and later Hastinapur. He was Draupadi’s husband and the father of Prativindhya. Sonu played the role of teenage Yudhishthira. Praveen Kumar played Bhima, the second of the Pandavas and son of Kunti and Vayu. He was the crown prince of Indraprastha and husband of Draupadi and Hidimba.
He was the father of Ghatotkacha and Sutasoma and younger brother of Duryodhana. Mallick played the role of young Bhima. Feroz Khan played Arjuna, the third of the Pandavas. He was the son of Kunti and Indra and husband of Draupadi, Ulupi, Chitrangada and Subhadra. He was the brother-in-law of Balarama and Sri Krishna and father of Abhimanyu, Babruvahana, Iravan and Shrutakarma.
Ankur Javeri played the role of teenage Arjuna. Roopa Ganguly played Draupadi, daughter of Panchala king Drupada and wife of the Pandavas. She was also called Panchali and Yajnaseni. She was the sister of Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi and mother of the Upapandavas.
Puneet Issar played the role of Duryodhana, the eldest son of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra and brother of the 99 Kauravas. He was the husband of Bhanumati and father of Lakshmana. He was the younger cousin of Yudhishthira and the elder cousin of the rest four Pandavas and the crown prince of Hastinapur and the best friend of Karna. Young Duryodhana was played by Amit Shukla.
Apart from this, Sameer Chitre played Nakul, Sanjeev Chitre played Sahdev, Vinod Kapoor played Dushasan, Kaushal Shah played young Dushasan, Gufi Paintal played Shakuni, Girija Shankar played Dhritarashtra, Renuka Israni played Gandhari, Nazneen played Kunti, Virendra Rajdan played Vidur, Surendra Pal played Dronacharya, Dharmesh Tiwari played Kripacharya, Pradeep Rawat played Ashwatthama and Ayush Shah played young Ashwatthama.
This historical serial of Mahabharata left a deep impression on the minds of the audience and its characters won everyone’s heart with their unique acting.
Mahabharat Serial Cast
Old Mahabharat Serial Cast
Actor
Character
Description
Nitish Bharadwaj
Krishna
Eighth avatar of Vishnu, son of Devaki-Vasudev, foster son of Nand-Yashoda, brother of Balrama and Subhadra, cousin of Pandavas, nephew of Kamsa, grandson of Ugrasena, consort of Radha, husband of Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, and other queens, also portrayed Rama in the song “Sabse Uchi Prem Sagai.”
Kewal Shah
Adolescent Krishna
Young Krishna.
Pankaj Dheer
Karna
Son of Kunti and Surya, foster son of Adhiratha-Radha, King of Anga, eldest Pandava brother, husband of Padmavati and Supriya, father of Vrishaketu and 8 other sons, uncle of Upapandavas and others, best friend of Duryodhana.
Harendra Paintal
Young Karna
Young version of Karna.
Mukesh Khanna
Bhishma
Son of Shantanu-Ganga, eighth Vasu, step-son of Satyavati, uncle of Dhritrashtra, Pandu, and Vidura, grandfather of Kauravas and Pandavas.
Krish Malik
Adolescent Bhishma
Young version of Bhishma.
Gajendra Chauhan
Yudhishthira
Eldest Pandava, son of Kunti and Yama, King of Indraprastha and later Hastinapura, husband of Draupadi, father of Prativindhya.
Sonu
Young Yudhishthira
Young version of Yudhishthira.
Praveen Kumar
Bhima
Second Pandava, son of Kunti and Vayu, crown prince of Indraprastha, husband of Draupadi and Hidimbi, father of Ghatotkacha and Sutasoma.
Mallik
Young Bhima
Young version of Bhima.
Firoz Khan
Arjuna
Third Pandava, son of Kunti and Indra, husband of Draupadi, Ulupi, Chitrāngadā, and Subhadra, brother-in-law of Balaram and Krishna, father of Abhimanyu, Babruvahana, Iravan, and Shrutakarma.
Ankur Javeri
Young Arjuna
Young version of Arjuna.
Roopa Ganguly
Draupadi
Wife of the Pandavas, called Panchali and Yagyaseni, daughter of Drupada, princess of Panchala, sister of Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi, mother of Upapandavas.
Puneet Issar
Duryodhana
Eldest son of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, elder brother of 99 Kauravas, husband of Bhanumati, father of Lakshmanaa, crown prince of Hastinapura, Karna’s best friend.
Amit Shukla
Young Duryodhana
Young version of Duryodhana.
Sameer Chitre
Nakula
Fourth Pandava, son of Madri and Ashwini Kumara, husband of Draupadi, father of Shatanika.
Sanjeev Chitre
Sahadeva
Fifth Pandava, son of Madri and Ashwini Kumara, husband of Draupadi, father of Shrutasena.
Vinod Kapoor
Dushasana
Second son of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, younger brother of Duryodhana.
Kaushal Shah
Young Dushasana
Young version of Dushasana.
Gufi Paintal
Shakuni
Brother of Gandhari, later King of Gandhara, maternal uncle of Duryodhana and the Kauravas.
Girija Shankar
Dhritarashtra
Son of Vichitravirya and Ambika, later King of Hastinapura, father of the Kauravas.
Renuka Israni
Gandhari
Wife of Dhritarashtra, Queen of Hastinapura, mother of Kauravas, princess of Gandhara, sister of Shakuni.
Nazneen
Kunti
First wife of Pandu, mother of Karna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna, daughter of Shurasena, Vasudeva’s sister, Yadava princess, foster daughter of Kunti-Bhoja.
Virendra Razdan
Vidura
Prime minister of Hastinapura, son of Ambika’s maid Parishrami and Vyasa, half-brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu, uncle of Pandavas and Kauravas.
Surendra Pal
Dronacharya
Guru of the Pandavas and Kauravas, father of Ashwatthama.
Dharmesh Tiwari
Kripacharya
Family teacher, brother of Kripi, maternal uncle of Ashwatthama.
Surendra Bareth is a versatile actor and assistant director with a Bachelor’s degree from Guru Ghasidas University. He has made remarkable contributions to Hindi and Chhattisgarhi cinema, as well as television, excelling in both acting and direction.
