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Mahabharat returns to the screen after three decades, but the stories about the making of the show continue to entertain viewers even today. Throwing for the show was a gigantic task with each character having an important part in the story. Gufi Paintal, who played Shakuni in Mahabharat, took over auditioning around 5,000 artists for the show in order to find the perfect fit for the key roles.
In sharing about his experience as casting director on the show, he had told the Hindustan Times in an interview: “It was tedious work. We did the longest auditions in television history back then. “
Speaking about how he chose Puneet Issar and Nitish Bharadwaj for the roles of Duryodhan and Krishna, respectively, Gufi said: “Puneet accidentally hit Amitabh Bachchan in Coolie (1983), and he was out of a job. Nitish was seen in an advertisement made by the Chopras. ”
Puneet Issar (second from right) as Duryodhan in Mahabharat.
Puneet Issar as Duryodhan
Puneet was eager to play the role of main antagonist Duryodhan, but was considered for the role of Bheem due to his height. He told RJ Anmol in a recent conversation, “I recited the Jayadrath Vadh in front of Chopra saab, Pandit Narendra Sharma and Dr. Rahi Mazoom Raza and they were convinced by my powerful speech and finally decided to choose me as Duryodhan.”
Mukesh Khanna as Bhishma
Meanwhile, Mukesh Khanna had auditioned for the role of Duryodhan. He said: “I was against playing a villain after playing a protagonist in 15 movies. He wanted the role of Arjun or Karna that had already been taken over by others. “But Vijayendra Ghatge was already cornered for the role of Bhishma. Mukesh Khanna recalled:” Perhaps he was not sure of playing the role of an old man who required to bleach his hair and the beard. They called me up for the role at the last minute, they made my beard and sewed my clothes in a jiffy and rest is history. “
Govinda, Chunky Panday, Juhi Chawla chose films about Mahabharat
There were many Bollywood actors who were considered for various roles in Mahabharat, but ended up choosing movies on television. Govinda and Chunky Panday signed for the role of Abhimanyu, saying no to the role to work in movies.
He had revealed a short list of six actors for the role of Draupadi, including Juhi Chawla. Confirming that it was Rupa’s command of the Hindi language that made his purse the role, Gufi had said: “Ramya Krishnan and Roopa were the final names, and we chose Roopa because his Hindi was good.”
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Juhi Chawla was also offered the role of Draupadi, but the actor soon landed the role of the female lead alongside Aamir Khan in the 1988 film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. While she chose to give preference to the silver screen. QWQT was his second Bollywood movie and his first leading role in a Hindi movie.
Arjun Firoz Khan, who played the role of Arjun, was initially rejected during the auditions. He recently said in an interview that he posed with Juhi for the show’s photo shoot.
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