All posts tagged: Mahabharata

Exclusive: Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari Inspired By The Mahabharata?

Exclusive: Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari Inspired By The Mahabharata?

Taapsee Pannu is set to headline Gandhari, an upcoming action thriller that sees the actor take on a physically demanding role. One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is Taapsee performing action sequences blindfolded, adding another layer of challenge to a character built around strength, instinct and determination. According to our source, “Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari is said to be a modern-day interpretation inspired by the Mahabharata. In the epic, Gandhari’s character holds a crucial and intriguing place as a devoted wife and mother, and the film is expected to explore a contemporary take on some of those themes through Taapsee’s character.” In the Mahabharata, Gandhari is known as the devoted wife of Dhritarashtra and the mother of the Kauravas. She famously chose to blindfold herself for much of her life, mirroring her husband’s blindness. Beyond this, Gandhari remains an important figure in the epic, particularly for her strength, devotion and relationship with her family. The film is expected to take these associations into a contemporary setting, with the story combining revenge, action and …

‘Blasphemy’: Nag Ashwin hits back at criticism of Karna’s portrayal in Kalki 2898 AD | Telugu News

‘Blasphemy’: Nag Ashwin hits back at criticism of Karna’s portrayal in Kalki 2898 AD | Telugu News

3 min readHyderabadJul 13, 2026 03:51 PM IST Director Nag Ashwin, who is known for staying away from social media debates, broke his silence on Saturday over the criticism of how Karna was portrayed in Kalki 2898 AD, telling his critics to read the Mahabharata before passing judgment. The response came after a social media post went viral following the release of Akhil Akkineni’s Lenin. A user praised actor Pramod Panju’s performance as the antagonist in Lenin and said that this was how Karna should be shown on screen. The comment quickly turned into a direct attack on Kalki 2898 AD, with the user accusing Nag Ashwin of glorifying Karna at the expense of Arjuna and calling the film’s climax “blasphemy.” The criticism was not new. Since Kalki 2898 AD released last year and became one of the biggest Indian films at the box office, a section of viewers and commentators has taken issue with how the film elevated Karna’s character, arguing that it diminished Arjuna’s stature and distorted the original epic. Lyricist Anantha Sriram …

Vishal Bhardwaj invokes the Mahabharata to defend violence in Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo

Vishal Bhardwaj invokes the Mahabharata to defend violence in Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo

4 min readMumbaiFeb 23, 2026 02:30 PM IST In the last five to six years, cinema has changed dramatically. There has been a clear shift towards films driven by mass appeal and heightened violence. The success of projects like Animal, Marco, and Dhurandhar indicates that the audience of today has high tolerance for violence, provided they are engaged by the story. But the question remains: how much violence is too much? The same question was posed in front of Vishal Bharadwaj during his interview with ANI. Bharadwaj is known to showcase violence and bloodshed with an aesthetic lens. Films like Maqbool, and Haider had their share of ‘mar dhaad’, but it never stuck out like a sore thumb because of the engaging story. Bharadwaj, whose latest release O’Romeo also features several violent scenes, said that on a personal level he has no issue with violence. He even cited the ‘Mahabharata’ to make his point. “Normalise se zyada mujhe lag raha hai ki bahut explicit ho gaya hai violence which is fine for me, personally. I …

After Aamir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj eyes adapting the Mahabharata, says it is going to be a ‘huge task’: ‘I have already done some work on it’ | Bollywood News

After Aamir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj eyes adapting the Mahabharata, says it is going to be a ‘huge task’: ‘I have already done some work on it’ | Bollywood News

3 min readMumbaiFeb 20, 2026 05:13 PM IST Just a week after the release of O Romeo, a violent love story starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has turned his attention to what could be one of the most ambitious projects of his career. Known for drawing inspiration from classic literature, most notably adapting works of William Shakespeare, Bhardwaj has now revealed his desire to reinterpret an epic of a different magnitude: the Mahabharata. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Speaking to Press Trust of India, Bhardwaj shared his thoughts on the possibility of adapting the epic for contemporary audiences: “I feel like adapting the Mahabharata into contemporary times, the entire Mahabharata. But it’s such a huge task, and I have already done some work on it. I don’t know if that will be my next project. Right now, the time is to celebrate O’Romeo.” Vishal Bhardwaj is not alone in expressing interest in bringing the epic to the big screen. Filmmakers such as SS Rajamouli have also spoken about their desire to adapt …

Sitharaman’s New Budget Plan to Transform 3 Legendary Mahabharata Sites into ‘Vibrant’ Global Destinations

Sitharaman’s New Budget Plan to Transform 3 Legendary Mahabharata Sites into ‘Vibrant’ Global Destinations

With the Centre announcing Hastinapur in Meerut district as one of the 15 archeological sites in the country to be developed as “experiential cultural destination”, the move is expected to give a boost to the Uttar Pradesh government’s “Mahabharata circuit” plan. Hastinapur, which has references in the epic, the Mahabharat, as the capital of the Kuru dynasty, has been one of the earliest urban settlements of ancient India. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh government had released Rs 4 crore to develop Kampilya in Farrukhabad district, which is considered to be the birthplace of Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, and the capital of Panchala kingdom in the Mahabharat. In her Budget speech on Sunday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the development of 15 archaeological sites as “experiential cultural destinations”, where excavated landscapes will be opened to the public through curated walkways. “Immersive storytelling skills and technologies will be introduced to help conservation labs, interpretation centres, and guides,” she had said.Among the 15 sites, two are in UP – Hastinapur in Meerut and Sarnath in Varanasi. …

Aamir Khan says he wants to get Mahabharata right amid delay

Aamir Khan says he wants to get Mahabharata right amid delay

Aamir Khan`s long-standing dream of bringing the Mahabharata to the big screen has been a topic of contention for years. Fans have been eagerly waiting for concrete updates on the film. Meanwhile, the actor has now candidly spoken about the project, which could be his last, explaining why it has taken so long. Aamir Khan about Mahabharata During an interview with News18, Aamir Khan said Mahabharata is more than just a film project, calling it a huge responsibility. He shared, “That`s my dream, let`s see if it becomes a reality one day. I really would love to have the opportunity to do that, but it is a big responsibility. Indians are so strongly connected, it is in our blood. I don`t think there is any Indian who hasn`t read the Bhagwat Gita or, at the very least, heard it from their grandmother. Making a film, which is so fundamental for all Indians, is also a big responsibility.” “I often say this, `You can let Mahabharata down, Mahabharata will never let you down.` You do a …

Bollywood mourns the legendary icons who defined and shaped Indian cinema

Bollywood mourns the legendary icons who defined and shaped Indian cinema

Kamini Kaushal Veteran actress Kamini Kaushal, who was regarded as the oldest living actress in India, sadly passed away at the age of 98 on November 14. As per reports, she was battling with various age-related health issues. Kamini was definitely one of the most legendary stars of the Hindi film industry. In her long and vibrant career, Kamini has graced over 90 films with her presence. Pankaj Dheer Known nationwide as Karna from the historic TV series Mahabharata, Pankaj Dheer won hearts with his commanding persona and powerful delivery. He also appeared in many films. He passed away on October 15. Sandhya Shantaram Veteran actress Sandhya Shantaram, celebrated for her elegance and versatility, passed away on October 4 at the age of 94. A prominent face in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, she gifted audiences classics like Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje, Pinjra, and Do Aankhen Barah Haath. Asrani Asrani one of the most beloved comedian in the history, passed away on October 20. His portrayal of the jailer in Sholay remains truly iconic. For …

AI Mahabharata scene with modern bedside table in Hastinapur has internet in splits: ‘Just missing a wireless charger’

AI Mahabharata scene with modern bedside table in Hastinapur has internet in splits: ‘Just missing a wireless charger’

Updated on: Nov 03, 2025 09:46 am IST The presence of a very 20th-century bedside table in the AI Mahabharata on JioHotstar has the internet chuckling. A new adaptation of the epic Mahabharata is currently streaming on OTT. Mahabharat – Ek Dharmayudh has been created with the help of artificial intelligence with no actors, sets, or physical presence. The controversial show has received criticism for ‘normalising’ the use of AI in creation at a time when most creators are fighting to keep AI out of filmmaking. Now, critics of the show have found a blunder in one of the scenes to point out – the presence of modern-looking furniture in ancient Hastinapur. Ganga with her child in the Hastinapur Palace in a scene from the show. Modern bedside table in ancient Hastinapur The AI Mahabharat is streaming on JioHotstar and has been created by the Collective Media Network. The first episode was released on 25 October, and it focused on the birth of Prince Devvrat (who would later be known as Bheeshma) to Hastinapur’s King …

SS Rajamouli shares major update on cast of his Mahabharata adaptation: ‘Nani is definitely a part of it’ | Telugu News

SS Rajamouli shares major update on cast of his Mahabharata adaptation: ‘Nani is definitely a part of it’ | Telugu News

Ever since renowned filmmaker SS Rajamouli revealed his desire to adapt the Hindu epic Mahabharata for the big screen, anticipation has been high among fans. Considering his expertise in creating epic films, which he demonstrated in his directorials such as Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), and RRR (2022), fans think that only he can do true justice to the expansive world of the Mahabharata. While the project is still in its conceptual stage, Rajamouli recently made an announcement about it that has sparked excitement among many. At an event recently, the filmmaker was asked about the rumour concerning Telugu star Nani’s presence in the project. Without revealing many details, Rajamouli made a statement which itself grabbed the attention of many. “All I can say is that Nani is definitely a part of it,” he said while taking part in a pre-release event in Hyderabad for Nani’s upcoming actioner HIT: The Third Case. The actor-director duo previously worked together in the fantasy actioner Eega (2012), which earned both Nani and Rajamouli widespread …

SS Rajamouli confirms Nani will ‘definitely be a part’ of his dream project Mahabharata

SS Rajamouli confirms Nani will ‘definitely be a part’ of his dream project Mahabharata

Apr 28, 2025 02:32 PM IST Director SS Rajamouli has confirmed actor Nani’s participation in his long-awaited Mahabharata project, creating excitement among fans.  Director SS Rajamouli has shared a big update regarding his epic project Mahabharata at a recent event. Rajamouli has been talking about his dream project for sometime now, however, there hasn’t been any official announcement about it yet. For the first time now, Rajamouli has confirmed that actor Nani will be a part of the films. Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has created a buzz after confirming Nani for his epic project Mahabharata (Also read: SS Rajamouli’s Ram Charan, Jr NTR-starrer RRR gets shoutout from Oscars’ Academy in Stunt Design category announcement) During a recent pre-release event of Hit: The Third Case in Hyderabad, anchor Suman Kanakala, wanted to clarify about a rumour heard about the Mahabharata project from Rajamouli himself. She asked if it is true that he has finalised Nani for a role, to which Rajamouli replied, “All I can say is that Nani is definitely a part of it.” Rajamouli wanting …