So after so much rejection, finally Pankaj Dheer was selected for Arjuna. Everyone thought that now 'Arjuna' is settled finally but later we see Pankaj Dheer too leaves the role because of his moustache. The selection of Karna was quite simple for Gufi Paintal, lakhs of artists all over India had signed in and even Bollywood actors such as Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor were ready to play the role of Karna. Gufi Paintal chose Pankaj Dheer for Karna among several artists. The surprising moment was when Pankaj Dheer did not wished to play the central role of Karna, basically he had not read Mahabharata at all. So after seeing Pankaj Dheer's reaction, makers were shocked. The irony in this situation is, Ravi Chopra sir could have selected Jackie Shroff or any Bollywood actor for Karna but was doubtful that if the big Bollywood stars would give their complete time for their role. So, Ravi Chopra called Pankaj Dheer to his cabin where I and Mukesh were already standing. In the cabin, Rahi Masoom Raza, Pandit Narendra Sharma, BR Chopra and Ravi Chopra were sitting. Pankaj entered the cabin, BR Chopra yelled-"Sit!". I thought something extraordinary is going to happen. Chopra then said-"You know Pankaj, around 2000 bollywood actors were lined to play Karna but Gufi selected you. What else role could you even think to play Pankaj?" Pankaj Dheer said-"I have not read Mahabharata and have nothing idea about it. Maine bas Gita ke 2-3 shlokas padhe hai. I don't know any other character except Krishna and Arjuna..." Pandit Narendra Sharma(script-writer of Mahabharata) interrupted and said-"Who is the hero of Mahabharata?" I and Mukesh were standing at the door. Pankaj said- " Krishna". Mukesh Khanna burst into laughter then everyone started laughing, the old BR Chopra also struggled laughing. Seeing the environment, I also started laughing. Basically just like Pankaj Dheer, I too had not read Mahabharata. Among 3 of us, only Mukesh Khanna had the knowledge of Mahabharata. So Ravi Chopra said to Pankaj-" We are directing Mahabharata and not a lesson of Gita. Don't go on the poster, Krishna is barely present in Mahabharata and has a lot of negative shades. First go and read about Mahabharata. Take this book (Gita press short version) and I give you 3 days to read and then choose who is the hero?" Pankaj read Karna's glories in the Mahabharata and read different epics such as Rashmirathi, Mrityunjaya and even the epic poetry Karnabharam. He also watched the most popular movie on Mahabharata until now Daana Veer Soora Karna which had been still running in theatres at that time. After 3 days of reading and watching Mahabharata, he saw a Karna in himself and was too determined to play the role. He was like hitting his head on the walls as he dared to reject the role of the protagonist of the greatest Indian Television show in history about to be made for whom Bollywood actors had lined up, the hero which had been played by legendary actors like Sivaji Ganesan and N.T.Rama.Rao and now it is time for Pankaj to match them. He rushed to B.R studios and fell on Ravi Chopra's feet and said-" I am ready!" and hence like this was the casting of Karna. Mukesh Khanna was now tensed as Karna's role had been bagged. Mukesh's second preference was Arjuna as he rejected Duryodhana's role. Everyone were selected except for Bhishma and Arjuna's role. So, Mukesh Khanna was eager to play Arjuna. I tried to audition for Arjuna's role as now my line was clear, no one had selected for Arjuna but even then I was rejected. Since there was hardly anyone to compete with me for Arjuna's role, I was again called and auditioned but this time I was selected. They asked me if I was interested in playing Arjuna. Brilliant actors rejected Arjuna, now I did not wished to play it. Ravi Chopra tried to convince me, he was like-'You know Firoze, Arjun is one man army against Karna.' I came up to Mukesh Khanna and said-"Sir ji, I have got the role of Arjuna, should I do it?" Mukesh Khanna was now done, even Arjuna had been now taken. He gave me the Gita press version to read. I had no knowledge about Hindi Literature. Mukesh Khanna also then got Bhishma and then after the selection, the show begun on 2nd October 1988 and finally the show completed successfully. I always have an opinion that the new actors specially can't take the place of the old ones. The historic Mahabharata of 1988 can never be recreated. You cannot find another B.R.Chopra, Pandit Narendra Sharma or another Dr.Rahi Masoom Raza.