Hastinapur Ke Veer: Manish Wadhwa on bonding with the young cast; says 'Off-screen too, they call me Pitamah'

Hastinapur Ke Veer explores the early years of the Pandavas and Kauravas. The show traces the relationships, emotions and decisions that shaped the future of Hastinapur. Hastinapur Ke Veer which premiers from June 2, every Monday to Saturday at 9 PM, promises a compelling blend of emotion, duty and power. Manish Wadhwa will be seen essaying the iconic role of Bhishm Pitamah, who is the revered guardian of Hastinapur.

While Bhishm Pitamah stands as a guiding force for the young princes in the story, off-screen too, Manish Wadhwa has naturally become a mentor-like figure for the young actors playing the Pandavas and Kauravas. From Athar Khan as Yudhishthir, Subhash Khatri as Bheem, Urva Savaliya as Arjun, Harit Gabani as Nakul, and Mayank Yadav as Sahdev, to Aayudh Bhanushali as Duryodhan, Shaurya Upadhyay as Dushashan, the young cast shares a warm and comfortable bond with him on set. Between scenes and rehearsals, Manish often spends time helping them understand the emotions behind their characters, guiding them through dialogues, and sharing stories from mythology to help them connect deeper with the world of Hastinapur Ke Veer. Over time, these moments have created a genuine bond filled with learning, laughter and respect, with the younger actors looking up to him for both his experience and calm presence on set.

Talking about his bond with the Pandavs and Kauravs, Manish Wadhwa shared, “Interestingly, during this journey, I realised that my bond with the younger actors off-screen also started reflecting the same warmth and guidance. What I truly admire about these kids is how curious and eager they are to learn. They are always observing, asking questions and trying to understand scenes better, which is wonderful to see at such a young age. Between scenes, we spend a lot of time together, discussing mythology, chatting, and laughing. In fact, off-screen too, many of them have now started calling me ‘Pitamah’, which honestly feels very special. There is a beautiful comfort and bond we have formed as a team and their energy keeps the set alive every single day.”