Mahabharat is a 2013 drama TV series on Star Plus based on Indian legendary epic of the same name. It has been produced by Swastik Pictures and features actors such as Saurabh Raj Jain as Lord Krishna, Shaheer Sheikh as Arjuna, Pooja Sharma as Draupadi, Aham Sharma as Karna and Arav Chowdhary as Bhishma Pitamah. The producers had creative associations with writer Salim Khan, author Devdutt Pattanaik, designer Bhanu Athaiya, music directors Ajay-Atul and Ismail Darbar, action director Ram Shetty and set designer Omang Kumar. The casting of the show is done by Sahil Ansari, Mahesh Chandra Bhatt, Arun Mitra. It started broadcasting on 16 September 2013.
A lavish, high-commitment retelling of the Mahabharata that plays like a prestige mythological epic rather than a simple family drama. It’s best appreciated for its scale, visual design, and earnest devotional tone, with strong performances and a clear sense of grandeur.
Best for
Viewers who want a sweeping Indian mythological epic
Fans of devotional, high-stakes family sagas
People interested in large-scale costume drama and spectacle
Viewers comfortable with serialized, dialogue-heavy storytelling
Skip if
You want fast pacing or a compact episode count
You prefer subtle realism over heightened mythic storytelling
You’re not interested in religious or epic source material
You dislike melodrama and moralized, sermon-like narration
Overview
Mahabharat is an ambitious, highly stylized television adaptation that treats one of India’s foundational epics with seriousness and scale. Its appeal lies in the combination of pageantry, emotional intensity, and clear archetypal storytelling: heroes, rivals, vows, betrayals, and divine intervention are all presented with a strong sense of occasion.
Worth noting
The series is strongest when it leans into its visual grandeur and the central character dynamics, especially Krishna, Arjuna, Draupadi, Karna, and Bhishma. It can be melodramatic and very dialogue-forward, but that’s part of the format; the show aims for reverence and momentum more than psychological realism.
Bottom line
For viewers who enjoy long-form mythological television, this is one of the more polished modern Indian productions in the genre. It’s less a casual binge than a commitment, but the production values and cultural significance make it a notable watch if the material itself appeals to you.
2022 · Curator 6.6/10 (211.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
For viewers who enjoy mythic storytelling, divine figures, and a reverent, literary approach to the supernatural.
Topics
mythological drama, epic saga, costume spectacle, religious storytelling, family conflict, war and politics, melodramatic, prestige television, serialized narrative, Indian television