1000-crore Mahabharata: Will Hrithik Roshan or Mahesh Babu be cast as Krishna?

It was earlier reported that the Mahabharata will be adapted into a film with a Rs 1,000 crore budget. Malayalam stalwart Mohanlal will play the lead role of Bhima since the film will be from that character’s perspective. The film is titled Randamoozham.

However, there is no clarity about the other characters. One of the key characters of the epic is Krishna and there are two names that have cropped up as possible contenders of playing that role — Hindi film superstar Hrithik Roshan and Telugu megastar Mahesh Babu.

International Business Times reports that the director VA Srikumar Menon has both the superstars on his mind for the role of Krishna. However, he has not zeroed in on one either yet. Roshan has starred in period dramas like Ashutosh Gowariker’s 2008 romantic drama Jodhaa Akbar and Mohenjo Daro from last year. While the former was a blockbuster, the latter tanked at the box office.

Aamir Khan had expressed his desire to play Krishna if a cinematic version of the Mahabharata is ever made. In fact, he had also met Telugu filmmaker SS Rajamouli who is planning to direct an adaptation of the epic. While that film might take years to go on floors, Khan is not even a contender to Krishna’s role in Menon’s Mahabharata.

International Business Times quotes Menon as saying, “MT (Vasudevan Nair) sir’s script will also have an explanatory note that gives a complete idea on each character. An international casting agency has been hired, and we are yet to finalise the cast, but definitely some of the best teams in Indian cinema and a couple of surprise cast from Hollywood will also be part of the film. I need actors to be committed to this project for almost two years.”

Menon also confirmed that he is considering Malayalam actors Mammootty and Prithviraj Sukumaran for key roles in his film.