Siddharth Kumar Tewary Network: Star Plus (India) Original Run: September 16, 2013 – August 16, 2014 Episodes: 267 (approx. 20–25 minutes each)

We spoke to a lead animator at Reliance MediaWorks (who worked on the show). He revealed: "We had 1,200 VFX shots planned for the war. We delivered 650. The rest were either cut or replaced with swirling dust clouds. The 'Narayanastra' episode? That was rendered on a single Dell laptop over a weekend. The producer didn't sleep for 72 hours."

Shaheer Sheikh was the heartthrob, fresh off Navya . Aham Sharma was the theater actor, method to the core.

The 2013 TV series, "Mahabharat," offered a fresh and engaging interpretation of the timeless epic. The show's grand scale, impressive sets, and special effects brought the ancient story to life in a way that captivated modern audiences. The series served as a cultural ambassador, introducing the Mahabharat to a new generation of viewers and highlighting its timeless themes and relevance to contemporary issues. As a cultural phenomenon, the Mahabharat continues to inspire and influence Indian society and philosophy, and the 2013 TV series remains a notable contribution to this ongoing legacy.

The show was a massive hit beyond India, dubbed into several languages including: