From Nitish Bhardwaj as a flute-playing villager, to Akshay Kumar as a Ray Ban-wearing charmer: How the portrayal of Lord Krishna has evolved on screen

New Delhi: He has a signature look. His has his favourite accessories, his favourite music instrument and he's got a way with the ladies. One of the most intriguing characters from the Indian epic 'Mahabharata', Lord Krishna's tales have enthralled bhakts for centuries.

An inspiration for poetry, prose and art all over the world, the Hindi film and television industry has been portraying Krishna on the silver screen for decades now.

Be it veteran actor Abhi Bhattacharya in the 1965 adaptation of the 'Mahabharata', or Nitish Bharadwaj in on-screen version in 1988, Krishna and his portrayal has always had some key elements in terms of his looks and appearance.

In Bollywood, several film versions of the 'Mahabharata' exist, that reportedly date back to the early '20s. According to the book titled 'Satyajit Ray: Beyond the Frame' the internationally-acclaimed filmmaker also intended to direct a theatrical adaptation of the epic, but the project was never realised.

Be it the peacock feather in his crown, the melodious flute in his hand, his wit, or his charm with the ladies, traditionally, Krishna has always been portrayed the same way.

But in recent years, several films have been showing the Lord Krishna in a more human avatar -- not just a celestial being. From Amrish Puri in a brief (non-evil) role in Shyam Benega's 1981 adaptation, 'Kalyug', to Nana Patekar in Prakash Jha's 'Raajneeti' in 2010, the role Krishna has changed over the years.

Perhaps one of the most interesting portrayals of Krishna on the big screen, is Akshay Kumar as Krishna Vasudev Yadav in Umesh Shukla's 2012 film, 'OMG - Oh My God'. As a modern on-screen 'avatar' of the god, Kumar is seen in well-cut clothes designed by Raghavendra Rathore, riding a slick motorcycle and playing the flute only recreationally. He talks like a modern man, empathises with everyone and even leaves his bhakts to make their own choices.

While we are still interested in seeing a raw, 'Game of Thrones'-scale portrayal of the Indian epic, we are pleased to see that the Indian gods are also evolving with their worshippers.