Mahabharat 2013 %21exclusive%21 [new] May 2026

The Modern Retelling: An Exclusive Look Back at Mahabharat (2013)

When Star Plus launched Mahabharat in September 2013, it was walking in the shadow of giants. The 1988 version by B.R. Chopra was considered sacrosanct—a slow, dialog-heavy theatrical masterpiece. To challenge that nostalgia was a risk. However, what producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary created was not just a remake; it was a reimagining for a new generation, blending spiritual gravity with the pacing and aesthetics of modern cinema.

Cinematographer Santosh Thundiyil (exclusive quote): "Shooting Krishna in 2013 was hell. We didn't have the fancy LED screens they use today. To get that 'cosmic' light in his eyes during the Bhagavad Gita, we literally put a 2000-watt halogen bulb two inches from his face. Sourabh’s corneas were burning. He would cry between takes, then go back and smile like a god. That is dedication." mahabharat 2013 %21EXCLUSIVE%21

A decade later, here is an exclusive breakdown of what made this rendition iconic. The Modern Retelling: An Exclusive Look Back at

: Ends with the victory of the Pandavas and the establishment of under Yudhishthira’s rule. Exclusive Trivia & Production Insights To challenge that nostalgia was a risk