It's a dynastic struggle for the throne of Hastinapur, the kingdom ruled by the Kuru clan. The two branches of the family that participate in the struggle are the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Although the Kauravas are the senior branch of the family, Duryodhan, the eldest Kaurava, is younger than Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandav. The seeds of the climactic battle of Kurukshetra were laid in the boyhood days of the Kauravas and Pandavas, when Shakuni, the maternal uncle of the Kauravas poisoned the mind of Duryodhana. This series ends before the Kurukshetra war actually occurs.
Writing for Livemint, Padmaparna Ghosh wrote that "KHMK suffers from a bad case of Kapoor soap hangover. Soft focus close-ups, shaky camera angles, repeat sequences — the new Mahabharat has it all.".[6] Navya Sinha of Hindustan Times that "Six-pack abs, waxed chests, off-shoulder blouses and a scantily-clad Draupadi decked in a chiffon sari... that’s what Ekta Kapoor’s version of Mahabharata is all about."[7]
Actor Mukesh Khanna stated that producer Ekta Kapoor made a horrendous epic saga which was incomprehensible with the characterisation and costumes of the mythological characters. He also stated that the way Kapoor made the saga was a mockery of Mahabharata.[8]
