Suryaputra Karn

Premise

The story revolves around Karna, one of the best archers of the Mahabharata, and narrates the entire epic from his and the Pandavas' birth to his eventual crowning in Swarga. Karna was the son of Surya and Kunti, born before her marriage to Pandu, and was abandoned by her. He was saved by Adhirath, a charioteer. From childhood, Karna resolved to become an archer and learned archery from Lord Parshurama, lying about being a Brahmin.

When his lie was discovered, Parshurama cursed him to forget the method of calling divine astras when most needed. Duryodhana later made Karna king of Anga and befriended him. Shakuni devised a plan to insult Draupadi, leading to a gambling match where Yudhishthir lost everything, including Draupadi. Duryodhana ordered Dushasan to disrobe her, but Lord Krishna saved her dignity.

The Pandavas and Draupadi were exiled for 13 years, sowing the seeds of the Mahabharata war. Indra, disguised as a Brahmin, took Karna's armour and earrings. Karna learned his true parentage but chose to fight for Duryodhana, blaming Yudhishthir for owing Draupadi. The war resulted in the deaths of Karna, Bheeshma, Drona, and many Kauravas; the Pandavas won, and Yudhishthir became king of Hastinapura.

Gandhari cursed Krishna for destroying the Kuru Vansh, and after 36 years Krishna's dynasty was destroyed; a hunter named Jara killed Krishna. The Pandavas went to heaven, where they met the Kauravas and Karna, and the show ended with Krishna's blessings.

Cast

Gautam Rode portrays Karna, son of Surya and Kunti, half-brother of the Pandavas, adopted son of Adhiratha and Radha, husband of Vrushali and Supriya, friend of Duryodhana, king of Anga, and father of Vrishasena and Vrishaketu. Basant Bhatt plays teenage Karna, and Vishesh Bansal plays child Karna. Saurabh Pandey appears as Lord Krishna, Viratswaroop Narayan, and also as Paundraka, a fake lord who preaches that Krishna is fake. Malika Juneja plays Supriya, Karna's first wife and mother of Vrishasena.

Farnaz Shetty plays Vrushali, Karna's childhood friend turned second wife and mother of Vrishaketu, with Richa Mehta and Jagrati Sethia as teenage and young Vrushali. Gautam Rode also plays Vrishaketu, Karna and Vrushali's son and later king of Anga. Aryamann Seth plays Vichitravirya, Shweta Gautam plays Sudharma, Priya Bathija plays Kunti, Kanan Malhotra plays Yudhisthira, Shaleen Bhanot plays Duryodhana, Vishal Patni plays Lord Shiva, Sailesh Gulabani plays Sanjaya, Ajay Jayram plays Shakuni, Navi Bhangu plays Arjuna, Pankhuri Awasthy Rode plays Draupadi, and Ketan Karande plays Bhima, among others.