Nitish Bharadwaj

Biography:

Nitish Bharadwaj, born on June 2, 1963, is an Indian television and film actor, director, screenwriter, film and TV program producer, and a veterinarian by profession. He is renowned for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in B. R. Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat, as well as for his depiction of Lord Vishnu and various avatars of Lord Vishnu in Chopra’s other notable works like Vishnu Puran.

Before venturing into acting, Bharadwaj worked as a professional veterinarian, serving as an assistant veterinarian at a Mumbai racecourse. However, finding the job monotonous, he decided to pursue a career in the arts. He received training in Marathi theatre direction under prominent figures such as Sudha Karmarkar, Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar, and Prabhakar Panshikar. He then transitioned to professional Marathi theatre with Sai Paranjpye and later shifted to Hindi theatre, following advice from his friend Ravi Baswani.

Bharadwaj’s breakthrough came when he was selected to play the lead role of Lord Krishna in B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat in 1988. The series became immensely popular and solidified his position in the television industry. He also portrayed Lord Krishna in the Hindi mythological play Chakravyuh, which received widespread acclaim.

Apart from his television work, Bharadwaj has also been involved in radio shows for BBC Radio 4 in London, UK, including Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan. He received a nomination for the Sony Radio Award for Ramayan in the UK in 1995.

Bharadwaj made his directorial debut in Marathi cinema with the film “Pitruroon,” which received praise from both audiences and critics. He has since focused on his film career, primarily through screenwriting, directing, and dancing.

Nitish Bharadwaj’s contributions to Indian television and cinema have earned him a prominent place in the industry, particularly for his portrayal of iconic mythological characters.