What are some lesser known facts about BR Chopra's Mahabharata?

• Each actor was paid Rs 3000 per episode, no matter how small your role was. (Except - foot soldiers). This was literally amazing. No matter you are playing Arjun or a maid, you will still get 3000 rs. That's an equality.
• Gufi Paintal (Shakuni) was a casting director and his younger brother Paintal played the role of Shikhandi(Amba’s next birth)

He is Paintal.

• Pankaj Dheer (Karna) initially auditioned for the role of Arjun.
• Feroz Shah(Arjun) changed his name to Arjun after playing his role in mahabharata. Nazneen(Kunti) changed her religion from Islam to Hinduism.
• Our beloved Mukesh Khanna aka Bhishma Pitamah, remained unmarried as, Pitamah was also unmarried. He also opened a production house called as Bheeshma International.
• Roopa Ganguly was teased as ‘fatty’ on the sets of Mahabharata.
• Shooting fighting scenes were the most challenging.
• Budget of this show was supposed to be Rs 6 lakh per episode but it was increased to Rs 7.5 lakh per episode.
• BRC Mahabharata is said to be most accurate one. But it is still 60% true.
• Events like Rajsyu yagya battles are missing.
• Actually, it was not Draupadi who said ’Andhe ka putra andha’(Translation : Blind’s son is also blind) , and some more events are twisted a little bit.
• Whitewashing of Karna started from this show only. He was strong but he did not do much of practice like Arjuna. Though he was son of Surya Dev(God) but there were mortals who were much stronger than him. Nepotism didn't helped him. Actually, he was a bad person. He was involved in Lakshya Greha and he only ordered Dusshashan for disrobing Draupadi. These were not shown in BRC Mahabharata.
• Still it is considered as the most accurate one.

Source : Harsh Anand