Mahabharat ( StarPlus TV Series) Cast, Real Names, Details & More

Mahabharat | महाभारत स्टार प्लस  ( StarPlus TV Series) Cast, Real Names, Details & More

In this, the character of Lord Vishnu and Shri Krishna was played by Saurabh Raj Jain in and Arjun’s character was played by Sahir Sheikh.

Although this serial started from September 6 in the year 2013, it used to give on Star Plus from Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm, but now its re-telecast has started again.

In which it gives from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on Star Plus, apart from this it gives on Star Bharat channel at 7:00 pm

Apart from this, if you want to watch its episode from the beginning, then you can watch it on Disney Plus Hotstar, there it is available for free.

Mahabharat StarPlus Cast, Real Names

Saurabh Raj Jain – Shri Krishna / Lord Vishnu

Shaheer Sheikh -Arjuna

Pooja Sharma- Draupadi

Aham Sharma- Karna

Aarav Chowdhary- Bhishma

Praneet Bhat- Shakuni

Arpit Ranka- Duryodhana

Rohit Bhardwaj- Yudhisthira

Saurav Gurjar- Bhima

Thakur Anoop Singh- Dhritarashtra

Riya Deepsi- Gandhari

Shafaq Naaz -Kunti

Nirbhay Wadhwa- Dushasana

Vin Rana -Nakula

Lavanya Bhardwaj -Sahadeva

Naveen Jinger- Vidura

Nissar Khan -Drona

Sayantani Ghosh -Satyavati

Paras Arora -Abhimanyu

Ankit Mohan -Ashwatthama

Vivana Singh- Ganga

Sudesh Berry- Drupada

Veebha Anand- Subhadra

Richa Mukherjee- Uttara

Sameer Dharmadhikari- Shantanu

Puneet Issar -Parshurama

Arun Singh Rana- Pandu

Pallavi Subhash- Rukmini

Vaishnavi Dhanraj -Hidimba

Aryamann Seth- Vichitravirya

Aparna Dixit- Ambika

Mansi Sharma -Ambalika

Shikha Singh -Shikhandini

Karan Suchak -Dhrishtadyumna

Ali Hassan T-akshak and Jayadratha

Ratan Rajput- Amba

Ketan Karande- Ghatotkacha

Tarun Khanna -Balrama

Nikhil Arya / Sachin Verma- Indra

Sandeep Rajora -Surya

Atul Mishra- Ved Vyas

Garima Jain- Dushala

Sandeep Arora- Vikarna

Kaushik Chakravorty- Shalya

Hemant Choudhary- Kripa

Ajay Mishra -Sanjaya

Tinu Verma -Jarasandha

Joy Mathur -Shishupala

Nazea Hasan Sayed- Vrushali

Raj Premi -Kalayavan

Rumi Khan -Kichaka

Akhilendra Mishra- Kansa

Deepak Jethi- Virata

Preeti Puri -Devaki

Vandana Singh -Yashoda

Kunwar Vikram Soni -Young Shri Krishna

Ketki Kadam -Young Radha

Alam Khan -Young Duryodhana

Vidyut Xavier -Young Karna

Ashnoor Kaur -Young Dushala

Rohit Shetty -Young Yudhishthira

Devesh Ahuja -Young Nakula

Rudraksh Jaiswal- Young Sahadeva

Pravisht Mishra- Uttar

Chandani Sharma- Kripi

Rio Kapadia- Subala

Shweta Gautam- Sudharma

Ananya Agarwal- Malini

Anju Jadhav -Sukhada

Jayantika Sengupta- Arshi

Kanishka Soni -Parashvi

Mohit Raina / Amit Mehra -Lord Shiva

Kunal Bhatia -Agnia

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The Modern Epic: StarPlus’s ‘Mahabharat’ (2013) Cast, Grandeur, and Enduring Legacy

The epic of the Mahabharata is a foundational pillar of Indian mythology, a tale of dharma and adharma, family conflict, and divine intervention. In 2013, Star Plus—in collaboration with Swastik Productions—unveiled a new, technologically advanced, and grand-scale television adaptation that redefined mythological storytelling for a new generation.

Produced by Siddharth Kumar Tewary, the series was a cinematic spectacle on the small screen, successfully merging the deep philosophical narrative with high production values, detailed costuming, and engaging visual effects. The success of the series catapulted its young ensemble cast into national and international fame, making their real names synonymous with the legendary characters they portrayed.

The Grand Vision: Production and Scale

Star Plus’s Mahabharat (2013–2014) was a television project of unprecedented scale, aiming to captivate an audience raised on big-budget cinema and modern technology. The producers were determined to create a show that honoured the epic’s gravitas while appealing to a younger demographic with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.

• Mega-Budget Production: The show was made on a reported budget of ₹100 crores (approximately $16 million at the time of release), setting a new benchmark for Indian television series. An additional $text{₹}20$ crores was allocated solely for marketing and promotion.
• Elaborate Sets and Locations: The primary sets, constructed at Umargam in Gujarat, were magnificent and alone cost $text{₹}100$ crores. The production did not limit itself to studios, with outdoor shoots taking place in picturesque, diverse locations across India, including Kashmir, Jaisalmer, and Jaipur, to capture the epic’s vast geographical scope.
• Focus on Visuals: The high budget was largely invested in elaborate costumes, intricate jewellery, sophisticated set design, and advanced visual effects (VFX) to make the mythological and war sequences believable and spectacular.
• Cultural Impact and Marketing: As part of a unique marketing strategy, Star India established a ‘Mahabharat Museum’ in shopping malls across eight cities, allowing the public to view the weapons, costumes, and jewellery used in the show, and even take a virtual tour of the sets.

The series ran for 267 episodes from September 16, 2013, to August 16, 2014, and garnered impressive viewership, with its premiere reaching around 8.4 million impressions. It was critically lauded, winning accolades like the Indian Telly Award for Best Historical/Mythological serial and the Star Guild Award for Best Drama.

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Core Cast, Real Names, and Iconic Roles

The selection of the cast was crucial to the show’s success, with actors chosen for their powerful screen presence and ability to embody the complex, nuanced characters of the epic.

Character	Real Name	Role Details
Krishna	Sourabh Raaj Jain	The ultimate mentor, philosopher, and incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Jain’s calm demeanour and eloquent narration (he was also the series narrator) were highly praised, cementing his image as one of TV’s most popular mythological figures.
Arjuna	Shaheer Sheikh	The master archer, the third Pandava, and the student of Lord Krishna who receives the Bhagavad Gita discourse. Sheikh underwent extensive training in horse riding and weapon combat for the role.
Draupadi	Pooja Sharma	The heroine of the epic and wife of the five Pandavas. Sharma’s powerful, dignified portrayal of the pivotal character earned widespread acclaim, particularly for the emotionally demanding ‘Cheer Haran’ sequence.
Karna	Aham Sharma	The tragic, noble warrior and the unacknowledged eldest son of Kunti. Aham Sharma’s nuanced performance of the resilient, complex character earned him the Indian Telly Award for Actor in a Supporting Role (Drama).
Duryodhana	Arpit Ranka	The eldest of the hundred Kauravas and the primary antagonist. Ranka brought a powerful, commanding physicality to the role, even shooting through an injury during the final war sequences.
Shakuni	Praneet Bhatt	Gandhari’s brother and the master manipulator of the Kauravas. Bhatt’s distinct voice and cunning performance were one of the show’s most memorable elements, earning him the Indian Telly Award for Actor in a Negative Role.
Yudhishthira	Rohit Bhardwaj	The eldest Pandava, the son of Dharma, known for his truthfulness and patience, yet prone to a fatal flaw in gambling.
Bhima	Saurav Gurjar	The second Pandava, known for his immense strength and fiery temper. Gurjar, a former wrestler, was cast partly for his formidable physique, which he honed through acting and combat workshops.

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The Legacy: Post-Mahabharat Careers and New Avatars

The success of Mahabharat transformed the careers of its young actors, establishing them as leading faces in Indian television and beyond.

Shaheer Sheikh: From Archer to Movie Star

Shaheer Sheikh’s performance as Arjuna secured his spot as a household name and was a launchpad for a hugely successful career.

• Television Success: He became one of the most popular actors on television with lead roles in shows like Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi (as Devrath Dixit) and Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke (as Abir Rajvansh).
• Film and Web Debut: He broadened his career into the digital space, notably in the web series Pavitra Rishta: Its Never Too Late (2021) and the film Do Patti (2024), where he played an abusive husband with grey shades, showcasing his versatility.
• International Appeal: Post-Mahabharat, Sheikh became exceptionally popular in Indonesia, where he starred in multiple local television series and films, often being dubbed the ‘SRK of the country.’

Sourabh Raaj Jain: The Philosophical Shift

Sourabh Raaj Jain, who had already gained popularity as Lord Vishnu in Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev, became synonymous with Lord Krishna due to his calming screen presence and profound dialogue delivery.

• Mythological King: He continued his mythological journey, notably starring as Lord Shiva in Mahakali — Anth Hi Aarambh Hai.
• Exploring New Genres (2024-2025): Jain intentionally moved into non-mythological roles, including participation in reality shows like Nach Baliye 9 and Khatron Ke Khiladi 11. His most recent work includes the web series Sangamarmar (2024) and a highly anticipated return to fiction on Star Plus in the show Tu Dhadkan Mein Dil (2025), where he sheds his divine image to play a modern-day rockstar.

Pooja Sharma: The Powerful Comeback

Pooja Sharma’s portrayal of Draupadi, which she credits with making her a stronger person, was her debut role and a career-defining performance.

• Post-Draupadi Roles: She later took on the challenging titular role of Parvati/Mahakali in the Colors TV show Mahakali — Anth Hi Aarambh Hai.
• Recent Television Return: After a sabbatical, Sharma made a significant comeback to television in June 2025 with the show Jhanak, playing an intense, grey-shaded tribal woman named Kanka, a conscious choice to break away from her ‘Goddess’ image and embrace a layered character.

The Kaurava Camp: Aham Sharma and Arpit Ranka

The actors playing the major antagonistic roles also found lasting recognition from the show:

• Aham Sharma (Karna): Following his award-winning role, he continued to play prominent parts in popular fiction and supernatural dramas such as Brahmarakshas (2016–2017) and Vikram Betaal Ki Rahasya Gatha.
• Arpit Ranka (Duryodhana): After making a successful television debut with Mahabharat, Ranka took on similar strong negative characters, including playing Kans in the mythological series RadhaKrishn.

The StarPlus Mahabharat of 2013 was more than just a television show; it was a cultural phenomenon and a game-changer for Indian TV production quality. It successfully retold the timeless epic with modern technology and a powerhouse cast, whose careers continue to flourish long after the final battle of Kurukshetra concluded on screen.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Q1: What is the real name of Lord Krishna in Star Plus’s ‘Mahabharat’ (2013)? A: The actor who played Lord Krishna in the Star Plus Mahabharat (2013) is Sourabh Raaj Jain.

Q2: Who played the role of Arjuna in the 2013 ‘Mahabharat’ TV series? A: The role of the master archer Arjuna was played by actor Shaheer Sheikh.

Q3: What was the budget of the Star Plus ‘Mahabharat’ (2013)? A: The Star Plus Mahabharat (2013) was reportedly produced on a massive budget of $text{₹}100$ crores (approximately $16 million), making it one of the most expensive Indian TV shows at the time.

Q4: What is the real name of Draupadi from the Star Plus ‘Mahabharat’? A: The actress who portrayed Draupadi in the 2013 Star Plus series is Pooja Sharma.

Q5: What are the main cast members of the Star Plus ‘Mahabharat’ doing now (2024-2025)? A: Shaheer Sheikh made his Hindi film debut in the 2024 film Do Patti. Sourabh Raaj Jain is playing a rockstar in the 2025 Star Plus show Tu Dhadkan Mein Dil. Pooja Sharma made a powerful comeback to Star Plus in 2025 in the show Jhanak.