Actor Anup Soni has lent his voice to the legendary warrior Karna in the animated series 'The Legend of Karna', which premiered on Sony LIV on 31 July. The series, created by animation visionaries Sharad Devarajan and Jeevan J. Kang and produced by Graphic India, chronicles Karna's journey from the son of a charioteer to one of the greatest warriors of the Mahabharata.

Why Anup Soni took on the role

Soni described voicing Karna as a deeply personal creative experience. 'When I first heard that 'The Legend of Karna' will be made from Karna's perspective, I found the idea extremely exciting,' he said. 'Karna, I feel, is one of the most complex characters in our mythology. We have known him as a great warrior, but behind the warrior was a man who constantly struggled with questions of identity, acceptance, and destiny.'

The actor traced his connection to the character back to the original Mahabharat television series. 'My first memory of Karna comes from Mahabharat, and what fascinates me about him is that he was such a powerful warrior, but still his life was filled with identity, acceptance, and loyalty,' Soni said. He added that as he grew older, he came to see Karna not merely as a symbol of bravery but as a figure defined equally by emotion and inner conflict.

The character's enduring relevance

Soni argued that Karna's appeal transcends mythology and speaks to universal human experiences. 'For me, Karna was never just a warrior. He was a man of immense strength, deep emotions and a very human journey. That is what makes him relatable even after thousands of years,' he said. The series is notably told from Karna's own perspective — a narrative choice that distinguishes it from earlier retellings of the Mahabharata.

The voice cast

Alongside Soni, the series features an extensive voice ensemble. Shahid Zafar voices Duryodhana, Bajrangbali Singh plays Bheema, Ashok Lokhande portrays Shakuni, and Dishi Duggal gives voice to Kunti. The cast also includes Shakti Singh as Bhishma, Samay Thakkar as Drona, Sumonto Roy as Dhritarashtra, Mayur Vyas as Vidura, Paritosh Sand as Adirath, Siddharth Awasthi as Yudhishthira, and Kumud Soney as Arjuna.

About the series

'The Legend of Karna' is an original animated production by Graphic India, the studio behind several acclaimed Indian mythology adaptations. Created by Sharad Devarajan and Jeevan J. Kang, the series brings a fresh visual and narrative lens to one of the Mahabharata's most debated figures. Its premiere on Sony LIV positions it as one of the more ambitious mythology-based streaming originals of 2025.