Casting plays a crucial role in bringing mythical characters to life on the screen. When actors embody these larger-than-life personas with authenticity and conviction, it elevates the storytelling experience and captivates the audience’s imagination like nothing else. Throughout the history of Indian television, there have been instances where casting for mythical roles has been nothing short of perfection. From epic gods and goddesses, these actors have left an indelible mark on the portrayal of these timeless characters. In this article, we got you all the 15 times casting for mythological roles was perfect.
16.) Saurabh Jain as Krishna ( Mahabharat, 2013)
One of the most iconic portrayals of Krishna in recent times is Saurav Jain’s Krishna in the 2013 Mahabharat.
Saurabh Raj Jain’s performance as Krishna in the Mahabharat was widely appreciated for capturing the essence and charisma of the beloved lord. He portrayed Krishna with grace, wisdom, and charm, bringing the character to life on the small screen. Through his role, Saurabh Jain garnered a lot of praise and recognition.
15.) Gufi Paintal As Shakuni Mama (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Gufi Paintal’s effectively brought out the crafty and scheming nature of Shakuni in the character’s portrayal in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
Shakuni played a significant role in instigating the rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, and thus bringing out this scheming nature was important. Gufi Paintal’s portrayal of Shakuni Mama is often remembered as one of the standout performances in “Mahabharat.
14.) Arjun Firoz Khan As Arjun (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Arjuna as Arjuna was casting at its best as he was able to bring out the personality of legendary archer Arjuna really well.
Arjuna is one of the most important characters in Mahabharat, he is the Pandava who is befriended by lord Krishna and who seeks answers to his doubts from the lord himself. Arjun Firoz Khan effectively depicted Arjuna’s journey, showcasing his archery skills, inner conflicts, and moral dilemmas.
13.) Roopa Ganguly As Draupadi (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Roopa Ganguly effectively portrayed the various dimensions of Draupadi’s character with a lot of grace that is still remembered today.
Draupadi is one of the central female characters in the epic Mahabharat and is one of the most important characters. She is known for her strength, courage, and unwavering devotion to her husbands, the Pandavas. Roopa Ganguly showcased Draupadi’s struggles, resilience, and emotional depth beautifully in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
12.) Swapnil Joshi as Krishna (Ramanand Sagar’s Shree Krishna, 1993)
Swapnil Joshi, a talented Marathi actor, portrayed the character of an adolescent Krishna in Ramanand Sagar’s Shree Krishna.
Swapnil Joshi took on the role of Lord Krishna in the show, which was directed by the renowned filmmaker Ramanand Sagar. His portrayal of an adolescent Krishna in the series was well-received by the audience and garnered him appreciation for his performance.
11. Puneet Isaar As Duryodhan (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Puneet Issar effectively captured the essence of Duryodhan’s arrogance, ambition, and flawed characteristics and is still revered today.
Puneet Issar’s portrayal of Duryodhan in “Mahabharat” remains one of his most memorable roles. His performance garnered appreciation from the audience and solidified his place in the history of Indian television. This is because Duryodhan is one of the most important characters of the Mahabharat who is mainly responsible for the war.
10.) Mukesh Khanna As Bhishma (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Mukesh Khanna captured brilliantly Bhishma’s commanding and righteous nature in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat and was perfectly suited for the role.
Bhishma is one of the central characters in the epic Mahabharat, known for his unwavering loyalty, wisdom, and his vow of celibacy. He is the character whose actions lead to the story of Mahabharat, and Mukesh Khanna did well in playing this character on screen. Till now no one was able to do the character more justice than Mukesh Khanna.
9.) Mohit Raina As Lord Shiva (Devon Ke Dev Mahadev, 2011)
Arguably the best and most powerful portrayal of the God of Destruction, Mohit Raina was perfect for the role of Shiva.
Mohit Raina an Indian actor from Jammu gained immense popularity for his portrayal of Lord Shiva in the television series “Devon Ke Dev… Mahadev” which aired from 2011 to 2014. He showcased his talent and captured the multifaceted nature of the character, showcasing Lord Shiva’s strength, compassion, and mysticism.
8.) Sarvadaman Banerjee As Lord Krishna (Ramanand Sagar’s Shree Krishna, 1993)
Sarvadaman Banerjee’s portrayal of Lord Krishna in the Ramanand Sagar series left a lasting impression on the audience.
Banerjee was born in 1965, in Mumbai and started his acting career with the TV series “Krishna” in 1993, which became immensely popular and showcased his talent as an actor. His portrayal of Lord Krishna in the show was widely appreciated for its depth and authenticity, capturing the essence of the divine character.
7.) Pankaj Dheer As Karna (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Pankaj Dheer beautifully portrayed the complicated and tragic character of Karna in the famous BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
In “Mahabharat,” Karna is a central character and one of the most complex and fascinating figures in the epic. Karna is depicted as a noble and skilled warrior, known for his loyalty, valor, and generosity. Pankaj Dheer brought depth and intensity to the character, capturing Karna’s inner turmoil and his sense of honor despite being on the wrong side of the war.
6.) Deepika Chikhlia As Sita (Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, 1987)
Deepika Chikhlia was perfect as Sitaji in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, she played the pure and courageous character of Sita really well.
Whenever one thinks about Goddess Sita, many have the image of Deepika Chikhlia. Through her portrayal of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, she became synonymous with the character of Sita. So much so that people still seek blessings from her. Her on-screen chemistry with co-star Arun Govail was perfect to show the connection and love between Ram and Sita.
5.) Dara Singh As Hanuman (Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, 1987)
The legendary wrestler playing the character of Lord Hanuman has got to be the best casting decision ever.
Dara Singh who is famous for wrestling, in fact, who is said to have never lost a wrestling match, was cast as Hanuman in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana. He did really well playing the powerful and devotional character of Lord Hanuman. He also later became the first sportsman ever to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
4.) Arvind Trivedi As Raavan (Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, 1987)
No one has played the evil and negative character of Raavan better than Arvind Trivedi in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana.
Arvind Trivedi played the negative villain of the epic Ramayana, Raavan in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana. Playing his only negative role in his career, he did it absolutely well. In fact, he did not audition for the role of Raavan but for the role of a boatman. However, in 2021 unfortunately Arvind Trivedi died at the age of 82.
3.) Nitish Bharadwaj As Lord Krishna (BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, 1988)
Nitish Bharadwaj became a household name after he played Lord Krishna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, and he portrayed the divine character perfectly.
Playing Lord Krishna is not that easy as the character is very complex, this is because Krishna is divine yet in a human form. Yet Nitish Bharadwaj was able to portray the role really well. He was initially supposed to play the role of Vidur, but then was soon given Krishna’s role given how young Bharadwaj looked to play Vidur.
2.) Sunil Lahiri As Lakshman (Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, 1987)
The casting of Sunil Lahiri as Lakshman was perfect, as he portrayed the angry and loyal character of Lakshman beautifully.
Sunil Lahiri who played Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, is got to be one of the best portrayals of the short-tempered and strong-willed character till now. It was due to the ensemble cast of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana that the show is still remembered today as one of the best adaptations of Ramayana till now.
1.) Arun Govil As Lord Rama (Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, 1987)
Arun Govil’s portrayal of Lord Rama was perfect so much so that people still respect him for this role.
Arun Govail, born in 1958, is best remembered today for his role of Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana. He portrayed the calm and composed demeanor of Rama beautifully on screen so much so that people even today bow down to his feet as they see Lord Ram in him.
These actors and their portrayal of legendary characters prove how good casting can make the authenticity of the retelling of these myths much better. Arun Govail and Deepika Chikhlia are still respected and seen by many as Ram and Sita because of the conviction these two brought in the Ramayana. With that, we come to the end of this article, hope you enjoyed reading this article. We will keep bringing you content like this, till then adios!