Nitish Bharadwaj has acted in Arthur Miller dramas, Oscar Wilde comedies and Moti Roti, a London musical extravaganza spoofing Indian cinema.

To millions around the world, however, Bharadwaj will always be Lord Krishna, the Hindu manifestation of God in the world that he portrayed in the Indian TV serial adaptation of the Mahabharata, the ancient Sanskrit epic.

Originally aired in 94 weekly, 45-minute episodes in 1988-90, it became the most popular Indian series ever and was seen in 65 nations.

Even years later, some viewers still touch Bharadwaj's feet — "out of devotion to Lord Krishna," Bharadwaj recognizes, "not to Nittish Bharadwaj."

The irony is that the role so closely identified with Bharadwaj initially went to another actor.

"They had cast someone else," he recalled. "But when they began work, the main producer, the director and writer were not happy with him. So they went back to the original screen tests — where I was one of the 2,000 actors who had tested. They shortlisted three or four. And finally, I was chosen."

Bharadwaj credits his "affinity for Krishna's wittiness" and fluency in Sanskrit with giving him the edge over all those other candidates.

"I believe Krishna wanted me to play the part," he said, "and it happened."

Bharadwaj will be the keynote speaker at the 18th annual Grand Janmashtami Celebration, presented by Hindus of Greater Houston tonight at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu the protector of the universe.

"I will speak about the relevance of spirituality in the modern world, the 'global village' as we now call it," Bharadwaj said by phone from his home in Mumbai. "My forte is Indian spirituality, where I draw my strength and inspiration from.

"My address will touch upon why Krishna is so important in Indian spirituality," he said. "To me, he is the god of celebration. He tells us not to renounce life but to accept it as presented. No one's life is rosy all the way, but accept it as a whole and learn to celebrate it."

The event's sponsors have sought Bharadwaj's participation for several years.

"It didn't materialize before," he said. "But this year I was able to, so I decided to come. The Indian community there (in Houston) seems very keen."

It will be his first time in Houston, though he's visited the United States, "mostly the East Coast, also Los Angeles a few times, that being the cinema capital."

The Indian TV series differs substantially from famed British director Peter Brook's nine-hour 1985 stage adaptation of the Mahabharata.

With a multinational cast, the stage show toured internationally for several years and was regarded as one of the great theater events of the 1980s.

"Peter Brook's treatment was more basic and allegorical," Bharadwaj said.

"The Indian TV serial was more detailed and more comprehensive, more faithful to the original texts and what we believe is their relevance to today's life."

Bharadwaj is pleased that the series is airing again in India.

"Those who saw it when it first aired now have teenage children whom they want to see it. It's reaching a new generation."

To portray a deity such as Krishna, Bharadwaj said, an actor "must have a very deep understanding of the philosophy, or it would be difficult to do it. And that usually means sharing the same faith."

Does the association with Krishna keep him from playing villains and other unsavory characters?

"As an actor, I'd love to do those," he said. "But my experience is that producers would not want to cast me in that sort of role. Actually, I think I would make an ideal villain because no one would believe I would do anything wrong."

Bharadwaj also has portrayed various avatars of Vishnu in the series Vishnu Puran.

"One of the incarnations was a very angry character — and that was difficult for me to play because that angry persona is nothing like me."

Bharadwaj described his family background as "priestly," his own temperament as "peaceful and meditative." Yet, perhaps surprisingly, he especially enjoyed doing Moti Roti — whose title, he says, means "nonsense."

The 1993 musical played at London's Theater Royal Stratford East and won a London Time Out Award.

"It was a parody of Indian cinema of the 1980s. I loved doing it because it was such a different genre for me."

Bharadwaj began his career as a veterinary surgeon, working with horses and tigers (his favorite animals), before turning to acting and directing.

He also served as a member of the Indian Parliament in 1996-99.

"I still consider myself a political activist," he said. "But I'm not sure if I ever want to run again."

He is currently completing the second season of a new TV series, Man Mein Hai Visshwas.

"The title translates as The Faith Is There in Your Heart," Bharadwaj said. "It's based on people's real-life spiritual experiences. We check the stories, and once authenticated, we dramatize them. It's completely different for me. And it's proving very popular."

everett.evans@chron.com

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Last updated on August 15, 2007 by Vandana Jaiswal