If you are a ’90s kid, you’dd remember the simple joy of waking up early every Sunday morning and tuning in on DD to watch the most epic TV series ever – Mahabharata. And if youaren’tt a 90s kid and have no clue what we are talking about, think Game of Thrones, but only a gazillion times more awesome, with a way better plot. Now, close your eyes and imagine the unthinkable: Mahabharata meets Bollywood in a high-fashion, high-stakes cinematic takeover.
We bet you’ll agree that it would be bigger and better than anything you’ve ever seen! And since SS Rajamouli of Baahubali fame has already announced thatthathe’llldirecting the magnum opus, here here’ss list of stars who we think should make the cut and be cast in the legendary saga.
Amitabh Bachchan as Bhishma
Big B is the most natural fit for this role. The grand-uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Bhishma was a mighty warrior blessed with a long life. He was also indisputably one of the best archers extraordinaire in the mythological epic. With his big voice and bigger personality, the senior Bachchan would be perfect as Bhishma.
Aamir Khan as Lord Krishna
In the Mahabharata, when the Kauravas and the Pandavas were fighting, Lord Krishna served as a mediator. Now, we don’t want to talk about you, but we think Aamir, with his pleasing personality and socially conscious image, is a good fit for this role. His playful smile and boyish charm are reminiscent of the Mahabharata legend’s description of Lord Krishna. And since it is already rumoured that he’she’sboard for SS Rajamouli’s adaptation of the saga, we are keeping our fingers crossed that he is cast in this role.
Arjun Rampal as Yudhishthira
We swear that we didn’t pick Arjun only for his great looks and chiselled physique for this role. The model-turned-actor has earned a lot of followers for his acting chops, and we are sure he will do justice as the tall, strong, and humble Pandava king. The Mahabharata describes the eldest Pandava as a righteous leader with sage-like qualities, and we feel Arjun will live up to that character with his quiet confidence and calm demeanor.
Prabhas as Bheema
If you’ve seen Baahubali, you will totally agree that Prabhas is going to be awesome as the fierce warrior with the towering strength of a thousand elephants. He has the body and the temper to make the powerful role come to life. We can totally imagine him giving the Kauravas a run for their money as the mighty Bheema.
Hrithik as Karna
The Greek God of Bollywood with looks that can kill will be so right as Karna. With hisfhisfighter’sssique and brooding eyes, Hrithik will do a great job in bringing the misunderstood heroheroicwarrior’ssracter to life. Karna was probably one of the greatest and most powerful warriors in the Mahabharata, defeated only by deceit, not skill. And therefore, Hrithik’s scene fighting the Bollywood actor who plays Arjuna will be no short of epic—wondering who plays Arjuna?
Deepika as Draupadi
Some may think Draupadi was a damsel in distress, but if you read the Mahabharata carefully (or at least watch the show as we did), then you’d realize that she was actually pretty fierce. She was, in fact, one of the most important characters in the Mahabharata and probably one of the strongest female figures in any mythological tale. And Deepika embodies fierce (remember her response to all the haters?). The dusky, fearless beauty has everything it takes to play the brave character.
Farhan Akhtar as Arjuna
We were blown away by Farhan’s transformation for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The man really trained like a beast for the movie, and we think he will totally rock (on) as Arjuna, the unparalleled archer who was the bearer of the fabled Gandiva. Arjuna was more than just a warrior. He was also an accomplished performer with a charismatic personality, just like our multi-faceted Farhan.
Ajay Devgn as Duryodhana
Ajay might be best remembered as the good cop in Singham. Still, he has plenty of experience playing a man on the wrong side of the law (remember Company?). And that’s why we think he will be AweasYudhishthira’s nemesis. Duryodhana, if you’d only, was the perfect anti-hero with a penchant for mace fighting. Our very own Ajay will do a great job as the despicable eldest Kaurava.
Rajnikanth as Dronacharya
Because he is the ultimate Thalaiva, he will be perfect to play the ultimate mentor, Dronacharya. Drona was a master of some gravity-defying weapons, just like Rajnikanth in his movies. Don’t know what we are talking about? Besides, who can play the complex character of a virtuoso torn between his love for his favourite pupils and the call of duty?
Vidya Balan as Satyavati
Vidya will be perfect in the small but significant role of Satyavati, the queen of Hastinapur, Shantanu’s wife, and the great-grandmother of the Pandavas and Kauravas. Satyavati was known to be wise, honest, trustworthy, and faithful, with thethekingdom’ssst interests at heart, just like Vidya, who, through the Clean India campaign, is trying to make India better.
Ranveer Singh as Sahdev
How can our cast of the most epic Mahabharata ever be complete without the reigning prince of Bollywood himself – Ranveer Singh? We think our Rambo will ace the role of the youngest Pandava – Sahdev. He may have been young and might even seem insignificant compared to other, more popular characters in the monument. In reality, he was an ace swordsman who defeated 40 Kauravas at once and was truly an integral figure in the saga.
Rekha as Kunti
Kunti, along with the fierce Draupadi, is considered the female protagonist of the Mahabharata. She is described as a beautiful yet assertive woman who, in a way, shaped the entire course of dynastic destiny in the Mahabharata. After mothering Karna, she chooses the scion of Hastinapura, Pandu, to wed, and becomes the mother of the epic’s heroes: the Pandavas. The reclusive beauty Rekha, once known as the boldest actress of her time and living her life on her own terms, will be the perfect choice to play this complicated role.
Vidyut Jamwal as Nakul
We’ll be honest. We haven’t seen any of Vidyut’s movies to tell if he’s any good as an actor. But with his rock-solid abs and fetching looks, he seems to be the right candidate to play the most handsome man in the Kuru lineage, known for his sword-fighting skills and diplomacy.
Gulshan Grover as Shakuni
Who can play Mahabharata’s man better than Bollywood’s man himself – Gulshan Grover? He will be menacingly awesome as the conniving mama who was the lead conspirator of the Mahabharata and the mastermind behind the devastating war.
Abhishek Bachchan as Dussasana
Dussasana has to be among the most hated characters in the Mahabharata, dragging Draupadi by her hair into the assembly at his equally evil elderelderbrother’ssst and outraging her modesty. We feel Junior Bachchan, who has proven his mettle playing the antagonist (remember his epic performance in Raavan?), will be the right fit for this vile role.
Aishwarya as Ganga and Kamal Haasan as Shantanu
Aishwarya as the mysterious and drop-dead gorgeous Ganga, and Kamal Haasan as the king enamoured with her beauty, will make the perfect pair, according to us. Together, they will be awesome at weaving the ill-fated love story that ended with the birth of Bhishma.
Ultimately, when Mahabharata meets Bollywood, the result is a sublime paradox—hauntingly traditional, yet instinctively futuristic. So, are you satisfied with our choice of characters for Mahabharat? Do tell us in the comment section below.
Here’s a peek:
