Two decades ago, life would stop every Sunday at 9:00 a.m., when Mahabharata aired on DD National. It was the original Game of Thrones, only 10 times more amazing and steeped in great history. Since then, many others have tried to re-create that magic, but haven’t quite got it right. Now imagine if the Mahabharata were to become a major Hollywood motion picture. There are no words that can define this level of awesomeness. They say casting is half the battle for a good movie, so here goes.
1. Shantanu -Sean Bean
The father of Bhishma and the ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas.
2. Bhishma -Ian McKellan
Grand uncle to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. In order to ensure his father’s happiness, he vowed to never ascend to the throne and to remain celibate all his life.
3. Dhritarashtra -Gary Oldman
Born blind, Dritarashtra was the brother of Pandu and the father of the Kauravas .
4. Pandu -James McAvoy
The father of the Pandavas, Pandu was crowned King of Hastinapur instead of his blind brother, Dhritarashtra.
5. Vidur -Hugh Laurie
Half brother of Pandu and Dhritarashtra and arguably one of the wisest characters in the epic, Vidur saved the Pandavas more than once from Shakuni and Duryodhana’s evil schemes.
6. Yudhisthira -Viggo Mortense
The eldest Pandava, Yudhisthira was wise, just and kind: the most noble of all the brothers.
7. Arjun -Orlando Bloom
A gifted archer and warrior, Arjuna was Guru Drona’s favourite. The anecdote about Arjuna and the bird’s eye is still told to kids as a lesson in focus.
8. Bheem -Tom Hardy
The mightiest of the five Pandavas had a fiery temper, but a heart of gold.
9. Nakul and Sahdev -Ryan Gosling (in a double role)
The talented twins, born to Madri, Pandu’s second wife.
10. Draupadi -Marion Cotillard
Draupadi was wife to the five Pandava brothers. Some say that it was her taunting of Duryodhana that triggered the chain of events which led to the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
11. Duryodhana -Mark Strong
Duryodhana was the eldest Kaurava and the epic’s main antagonist. He nurtured a deep rooted hatred for the Pandavas, planted in him by his maternal uncle, Shakuni.
12. Dushasana -Robert Knepper
He was the Kaurava who tried to disrobe Draupadi. He later paid for that with his life when Bheem tore open his chest and drank his blood. Not a good way to go.
13. Guru Dronacharya -Liam Neeson
Guru Dronacharya was a teacher and mentor to both the Pandavas and Kauravas. Despite knowing they were wrong, he served as the General of the Kaurava forces in the war.
14. Shakuni -Christoph Walt
The Kauravas’ maternal uncle and schemer extraordinaire. Much of the blame for the war rests on him and his quest for revenge.
15. Sri Krishna -Johnny Depp
Sri Krishna was the mortal incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He became Arjuna’s charioteer in the war and revealed the Bhagvad Gita on the battlefield.
16. Karna -Brad Pitt
Known as “Danveer” Karna, he was a gifted warrior and was righteous and generous to a fault. He is considered by many to be the greatest warrior in the Mahabharata.
And finally,
Narration by Morgan Freeman
Inspired from this great post on Quora .