When Nitish Bharadwaj Became ‘Immortal’ in People’s Hearts as Shri Krishna

You must remember B. R. Chopra’s epic television series Mahabharat. And you surely remember its cast—many of whom came to be worshipped like gods after the show aired. One such name is actor Nitish Bharadwaj, who is celebrating his birthday today.

The Beginning as a Veterinarian

Nitish Bharadwaj was born on June 2, 1963, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. After completing his studies, he began his career as a veterinary surgeon. But soon he realized that he wasn’t passionate about the field. Deep inside, he was restless, wanting to try something new. That’s when he turned towards theatre and joined a Marathi theatre group. This marked the beginning of his acting journey. Later, he also became part of Hindi theatre.

Auditioned for Vidur, Not Krishna

In 1988, Nitish was selected to play Lord Krishna in B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat when he was just 23 years old. This role catapulted him to instant fame. Interestingly, he hadn’t gone to audition for Krishna’s role at all—he had actually auditioned for the role of Vidur and was selected for it.

However, he was later informed that Vidur’s role had been given to another actor. The production team then asked him to audition for the roles of Nakul or Sahdev. Nitish, however, wanted to play Abhimanyu. Eventually, he gave an audition for Krishna’s role. At the time, he lacked confidence and doubted if he could do justice to such a divine character. But he got selected—and was later immensely loved for his portrayal.

Worshipped as ‘Shri Krishna’ Across Households

As soon as Nitish appeared as Shri Krishna in Mahabharat, viewers began seeing him as a divine figure. People longed to catch a glimpse of him in real life. He was worshipped in households across the country. The impact he made as Krishna remains a benchmark for any actor even today.

Played Several Mythological Characters

After his iconic portrayal of Krishna in Mahabharat, Nitish Bharadwaj became so popular that he was cast in several other mythological and religious TV shows. He played Lord Ram in Ramayan (2001) and appeared as Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna, and Lord Ram in Vishnu Puran (2003).

He also directed and produced the show Geeta Rahasya, and was the presenter of Mann Mein Hai Vishwas. In 2020, he appeared in the web series Samantar. He has also made some documentary films and acted in both Hindi and Marathi films.

Nitish continues to play Lord Krishna in a theatrical production titled Chakravyuh, which he has performed over 140 times in the last decade. The play is based on the Mahabharat character Abhimanyu.

More Than Acting—A Symbol of Faith

Nitish Bharadwaj’s portrayal of Shri Krishna was not just about acting—it was a fusion of devotion and emotion. He played the mythological character with such honesty and sincerity that people could not imagine him as anything else.

A Political Journey Too

Nitish Bharadwaj also had a stint in politics. He was active for several years and even became a Member of Parliament in 1996. However, he recently took retirement from politics to fully focus on writing, directing, and acting. He continues to be immersed in creative pursuits to this day.

On his 60th birthday, we salute Nitish Bharadwaj and remember his unforgettable portrayal of Shri Krishna—a role that went beyond performance and became an embodiment of faith.

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