24 April,2026 06:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Chandan Anand
In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, actor Chandan Anand opened up about stepping into the complex role of Shakuni in the upcoming mythological drama Hastinapur Ke Veer. The show explores the lesser-known early years of the Mahabharat's iconic families the Pandavs and Kauravas where "relationships are formed, loyalties are tested, and destinies begin to take shape."
Reflecting on his journey as an actor, Chandan shared how years of practice have shaped his craft. "As an actor I have grown⦠like any art form when you are learning after years of practice and training it just gets more confident, more poised and you start enjoying that craft more," he said. "So I feel I'm at that stage where I love performing and I'm enjoying it to the hilt."
Talking about preparing for Shakuni, he revealed that the process is still fresh. "It's been just four or five days I'm entering into that character⦠I'm taking the brief of the writers, the directors⦠they must be preparing it from last six-seven months, so now the actor's job has started," he explained. "I'm loving it, I'm enjoying it⦠they all want to portray it in a more realistic manner."
For Chandan, understanding Shakuni's psyche is key. "Trying to feel and know the psyche of Shakuni, who created the war of Mahabharata, who was actually the seed of that entire turmoil," he said, adding that playing such a character is both challenging and revealing.
He also reflected on how age and experience have deepened his approach to acting. "When you are like a seasoned actor at the age of 40, you start realizing what the full art is⦠you're living someone else's life," he noted. "When the character comes which is totally opposite of you, that's like a revelation⦠you realize how cunning, how shrewd, how manipulative people could be and that's what Shakuni is."
Despite the darker shades of the character, Chandan finds the experience enriching. "It's fun to live and enjoy these kind of characters⦠it's like a revelation for you that how the games must have been, how cruel they were and how cunning their minds must be," he said.
The actor believes the show will connect strongly with younger audiences. "It's catering to the young crowd⦠those who have heard about Mahabharata, for them this will be a new show, new performances," he shared.
Having already wrapped up his portions for the first episode, Chandan remains optimistic. "The director complimented yesterday⦠I said okay, the start is good, now let's see how it will go," he smiled, adding, "It will be a new Shakuni⦠a different kind of performance."
