Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Raj Babbar's dialogue almost stopped BR Chopra's Mahabharat from airing
A very long time ago, a popular TV show in India called Mahabharat almost never got to be shown.
Mahabharat is an old story about royal families, brave princes, and a big war.
The show's makers first shared its advertisement in 1984, but the show got delayed again and again.
The shooting finally began in 1988, and the first episode was set to air on October 2, 1988.
Just one day before it was supposed to air, some politicians said the show should be stopped.
They did not like a line spoken by the actor Raj Babbar, which said a king should be chosen for his merit, not because of the family he was born into.
A 'stay' was put on the show, meaning it could not be shown for a while.
The show's creator arranged a special court hearing in the middle of the night, and the judge cancelled the stay.
But newspapers had already printed the news that the show was stopped, so not many people watched the first episode.
Later, Mahabharat became very famous, and families and whole villages used to gather around one TV to watch it together.
Mahabharat was advertised as early as 1984, but shooting began only in 1988 and the show premiered on October 2, 1988.
On October 1, 1988, a stay was placed on the telecast after politicians in Delhi objected to Raj Babbar's dialogue on a king being chosen by merit rather than birth.
BR Chopra arranged an overnight fast-track court hearing, and the stay was revoked before the premiere.
Newspapers had already printed news of the stay, leading many to believe the show wouldn't air and giving the first episode a very low TRP.
Gajendra Chauhan, who played Yudhishthir, was first offered the roles of Krishna and Balaram before getting Yudhishthir.
- Who
- Actor Gajendra Chauhan (Yudhishthir), Raj Babbar (Raja Bharat), producers BR Chopra and Ravi Chopra, and politicians in Delhi; former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a fan.
- What
- A stay order blocking the premiere of Mahabharat over an objected dialogue, which was revoked in an overnight fast-track court hearing.
- When
- The stay was issued on October 1, 1988, a day before the October 2, 1988 premiere; the show was first promoted in 1984.
- Where
- India — the objections came from politicians in Delhi, and the pre-premiere launch party was held at Taj Mumbai.
- Why
- Politicians objected to Raj Babbar's dialogue that a king must be determined on the basis of merit and not birth, and also to the chakra in the series, which they saw as a party symbol.
Politicians who objected
Mahabharat's makers
Dialogue on choosing a king by merit
Politicians who objected
A politician was 'very badly affected' by Raj Babbar's line that a king must be determined on the basis of merit and not birth, and ordered that the serial should not be telecast.
Mahabharat's makers
BR Chopra and Ravi Chopra fought the order, pulling a fast-track court at night to get the stay revoked so the series could premiere on schedule.
Chakra seen as a party symbol
Politicians who objected
Politicians objected that the chakra used in the series was a party symbol.
Mahabharat's makers
The production 'somehow escaped' the objection, though Gajendra Chauhan said the show 'almost got trapped because of that.'
- TV series
- Mahabharat, produced by BR Chopra
- Premiere date
- October 2, 1988
- Stay order
- Issued October 1, 1988; revoked in an overnight fast-track court hearing
- First promotion
- 1984
- Shooting began
- 1988
- Objected dialogue
- "A king must be determined on the basis of merit and not on the basis of birth" — Raj Babbar as Raja Bharat
- First episode TRP
- Very low
- Notable fan
- Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee