House of the Dragon, streaming exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar in India

Fans of fantasy, fiction, dragons, and drama will know what it means to say that House of the Dragon on Disney+ Hotstar, is shaping up to be one of the biggest series of the year. The 10-episode series, with new episodes dropping every Monday at 6:30 AM IST (at the same time as the US telecast), is a  remarkable, turbulent story of the House of Targaryen, set 200 years before the events that captivated global audiences in Game of Thrones.  The story continues to deepen in  bitter rivalries, jealousy, lust, the quest for power, and betrayal  to destroy the Targaryen dynasty, giving audiences a compelling narrative to hold onto. 

But, have you ever wondered what this awe-inspiring show would be like with an Indian cast? With its expansive histories, familial focus and royal drama, House of the Dragon could easily be a desi Bollywood epic playing out on-screen. While Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine, Matt Smith and Matthew Needham are doing a fantastic job with their characters, imagine what it would be like to watch House of the Dragon, Indian-style! Here are some actors we think would be amazing in the desi version of the show – 

Ranveer Singh as Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith)

Daemon Targaryen is a contrary and charismatic character with murky motives. Ranveer Singh excels at playing complex, multifaceted roles as we saw in Padmavat and 83. With his ability to make even villainous characters attractive, he would be the perfect fit for the infamous Targaryen prince. 

Akshay Kumar as Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine)

King Viserys Targaryen is a duty-bound man who strives to keep his family and the kingdom he leads in good standing. Kumar is the ultimate Bollywood family man whose uncanny resemblance to Paddy made rounds via memes recently making him all that we can see whenever the Westeros King graces the screen. He has played characters who are righteous, who are powerful, who are good men in difficult positions. Who better to play the King of Westeros than him?

Deepika Padukone as Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy)

Rhaenyra Targaryen is a rebellious, adventurous princess who has conflicted relationships with almost everyone else in the series. Deepika Padukone, with her successful portrayal of strong, poised, magnetic women would be able to pull off this role with ease. 

Alia Bhatt as Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke)

Alicent Hightower is a queen in a very difficult position, manipulated by the men around her and at odds with her best friend. Alia Bhatt who has played unconventional women characters in movies like Dear Zindagi, Highway and Udta Punjab would absolutely do justice to Alicent. 

Saif Ali Khan as Larys Strong (Matthew Needham)

Larys Strong is a wily character with unclear but seemingly ill intentions. Given Saif Ali Khan’s unforgettable performance as Langda Tyagi in Omkara, and his general brilliance when playing roles that exist in shades of grey, he would make a fabulous Larys Strong. 

~ The struggle for the Iron Throne continues is HBO’s House of the Dragon, available on Disney+ Hotstar in India~