Salman Khan Reportedly Set to Play Karna in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mahabharata Epic

Bollywood is witnessing growing excitement around reports that Salman Khan is set to portray Karna in filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s ambitious two-part Mahabharata epic. The project, which has reportedly been in development for several years, is expected to be a large-scale cinematic interpretation of one of the most important stories from Indian mythology.

The reported collaboration brings together Salman Khan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Excel Entertainment for a project that could become one of the more ambitious productions in Hindi cinema. While reports about Salman’s involvement have become stronger in recent months, an official announcement confirming the complete casting and production details is still awaited.

Salman Khan and the Role of Karna

Karna is one of the most complex figures in the Mahabharata. His story is filled with themes of identity, loyalty, friendship, family, honour and destiny.

According to the epic, Karna was born to Kunti before her marriage. Fearing the circumstances surrounding his birth, Kunti placed him in a basket and set him afloat. He was later discovered and raised by Adhiratha, a charioteer, and his wife Radha.

Although Karna possessed extraordinary abilities as a warrior, his social background created obstacles throughout his life. His association with Duryodhana eventually changed his position. Duryodhana recognised his abilities and made him the king of Anga, giving Karna the status and respect he had long sought.

Their friendship became one of the defining relationships in Karna’s life.

Even after Karna learned about his true connection to Kunti and the Pandavas, he remained committed to Duryodhana. He eventually fought alongside the Kauravas during the Kurukshetra war.

This complicated moral and emotional journey makes Karna particularly interesting for a major cinematic adaptation.

Why the Karna Story Is Challenging

Unlike a conventional hero, Karna's character cannot easily be placed into a simple good-versus-evil framework.

He is admired for his generosity, courage and loyalty, while his decisions and alliances also place him in difficult situations. His relationship with Duryodhana, his connection with Kunti and the Pandavas, and his rivalry with Arjuna all contribute to the complexity of his character.

A two-part film could give the filmmakers considerable room to explore these different stages of Karna’s life rather than focusing only on the Kurukshetra battle.

For Salman Khan, the reported role would also represent a significant departure from many of the action-oriented characters associated with his recent film career.

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Vision

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has directed films including Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Mirzya and Toofaan. His filmography includes stories that combine personal journeys with larger historical, cultural or social settings.

A Mahabharata-based epic would take that approach to a much larger scale.

The reported project is being planned as a two-part film, suggesting that the makers intend to develop a broad narrative around Karna and the world surrounding him.

Excel Entertainment, founded by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, is reportedly backing the project. The production house has worked across several genres, and a large-scale mythological epic would represent another major addition to its film portfolio.

The Project Has Been in Development for Years

The reported Karna project is not a completely new development. The story has been associated with Mehra for several years and has reportedly gone through different stages and versions.

Earlier reports had linked Tamil actor Suriya to the project. That version was expected to be a major Hindi film opportunity for the actor, but the project did not move forward in its earlier form.

The film later resurfaced in reports during 2026, with Salman Khan becoming linked to the central role.

Initially, reports described Salman as being in discussions with Mehra. Subsequent reports became more confident about his involvement, with trade coverage describing the actor as part of the current version of the project.

However, until the filmmakers make a formal announcement, details surrounding the casting should be treated as reported rather than officially confirmed.

When Could Shooting Begin?

Current reports suggest that the film could enter production in 2027. The project requires substantial preparation because of its scale, including casting, production design, costumes, visual effects and other elements associated with a large mythological war epic.

Mehra is also reportedly working on another project with Vikrant Massey, a smaller small-town love story, before moving completely into the larger Karna production.

This could mean that audiences may have to wait some time before seeing the Mahabharata project begin filming.

Salman Khan’s Busy Upcoming Schedule

The reported Karna project would add another major title to Salman Khan’s already busy professional schedule.

The actor is associated with Monster, an action entertainer directed by Vamshi Paidipally and produced by Dil Raju. The film also features Nayanthara and is scheduled for an Eid 2027 release.

Salman has also been linked with a reported superhero comedy from Raj & DK. At the same time, he continues to have television commitments, including his association with Bigg Boss.

With several projects in different stages, Karna would potentially become one of the most ambitious films in his upcoming lineup.

What to Expect From the Mahabharata Epic

If the reported project moves forward as planned, audiences could see Karna’s story presented on a much larger cinematic canvas.

The two-part format could allow the filmmakers to explore his childhood, his relationship with Duryodhana, his connection with Kunti, his rivalry with Arjuna and his role in the Kurukshetra war in greater detail.

For now, however, many details remain under development. The final cast, shooting schedule, production scale and release date are expected to become clearer once an official announcement is made.

The reported combination of Salman Khan as Karna and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra as director has already generated significant interest. Whether the project ultimately reaches the screen in its currently reported form will become clearer as production progresses.

Read the original report for more details:
Salman Khan to Play Karna in Mehra’s Two-Part Epic MahaBharata

Tags: Salman Khan, Karna, Mahabharata, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Excel Entertainment, Bollywood, Indian Cinema, Mythological Movies, Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Karna Movie, Upcoming Bollywood Movies