On Janmashtami, Nitish Bharadwaj reflects on how playing Lord Krishna in the iconic Mahabharat changed his philosophy in life Nitish Bharadwaj's calm delivery and measured tone, his compassionate expression and his capacity to communicate the wisdom of Krishna without making the character appear remote, allowed for an interpretation that still reverberates. For many viewers, Bharadwaj didn't just play Krishna; he was the very embodiment of the character. But the actor regards his iconic performance as the culmination of a spiritual and cultural journey that began long before he ever stood in front of a camera. "I believe there was a foundation created for me by God so that one day I would play Krishna," Bharadwaj told Zoom. For him, the role emerged naturally from everything he had absorbed through his upbringing. "Since childhood, I have considered Krishna my elder brother. He is my friend, philosopher and guide," the actor stated, reflecting on his personal bond with the God. The actor was only 23 when he assumed a role of great religious and cultural importance. Mahabharat went on to become a landmark show, and Bharadwaj's portrayal got etched deep into the public imagination, and the distinction between actor and character disappeared for viewers. Bharadwaj recalls instances when people, including strangers, bowed before him. "Sometimes, when I take a cab, the driver will come out and touch my feet. It is not my feet; it is Krishna, and this is how I take it. Otherwise, I will start getting a swollen head thinking it is me." That humility is central to the way Bharadwaj understands the legacy of his portrayal. For him, the audience's emotional response is not evidence of his own divinity but of the enduring place Krishna occupies in Indian spiritual consciousness. In Bharadwaj's view, Krishna's relevance has only grown in a world marked by conflict, uncertainty and competing pressures. "There is so much strife, so many people are at loggerheads, and negative forces are working. It is only Krishna and his philosophy that will keep you on the right path. That is why he is the most loved God." Nitish Bharadwaj with actor Firoz Khan who played the role of Arjun Perhaps the most significant impact of playing Krishna on Bharadwaj was not professional but personal. The actor says Krishna's philosophy became a framework through which he learned to navigate the difficult periods of his own life. Rather than blaming circumstances or other people when things went wrong, he says Krishna taught him to take responsibility for his own choices. For an actor, playing one of the most revered figures in Hindu tradition, the role could never have been just another acting job. His faith and preparation combined to produce one of those performances that people still talk about decades later. "He gave me the wisdom to use different parts of the Bhagavad Gita and its philosophy to overcome the problems in my life and evolve as a better human being. I now believe that every problem is Krishna testing me." Nitish Bharadwaj with the cast of Mahabharat, on the side of Pandavas For Bharadwaj, portraying Krishna therefore did not end when the cameras stopped rolling. In fact, he believes that was when the real test began. "It was almost as if Krishna was telling me, 'You performed it well; now perform it in your real life,'" he said. Bharadwaj's day begins with devotional music and prayers. "Then, silently, you do your makeup, work and focus on what you are supposed to do. Basically, what I am doing is invoking the divinity within and trying to align myself with the divine," he shared. "The result is that once I am prepared to go on the sets or on stage, I don't know how I perform. I am in that zone, and I feel that it is Krishna's and Mahabhagwati's blessing that I live under." On Janmashtami, the celebration of Krishna's birth is often accompanied by devotional rituals, songs, and retellings of his life's stories. But Bharadwaj believes Krishna's relevance goes far beyond. He argues that while technology, lifestyles and social structures may change, the fundamental ethical questions confronting human beings remain remarkably consistent. "What does not change is the moral code and ethical code of human beings and of life," he says.