Shakuntala…An Eternal Love Story
Starring Gautam Sharma and Neha Mehta
STAR One and Sagar Pictures
Reviewed by Venetia Ansell
Shakuntala…An Eternal Love Story is as its title suggests a loved up and wonderfully melodramatic television version of Kalidasa’s play. Dushyanta, played by Gautam Sharma, is a dashing warrior king with body-moulded leather breastplate and long black hair. Neha Mehta as the object of his affection, Shakuntala, is all meaningful looks, long sighs and sudden gasps. An almost incessant soundtrack ensures that the viewer is left in no doubt as to the import of a particular moment, and there are tantalising suggestions that a spontaneous dance, Bollywood style, is just about to burst upon the forest glade.
In fact, although Shakuntala…An Eternal Love Story does have several unmistakable Bollywood traits, it is essentially a Hindi tv serial in the mould of the hundreds of episodic melodramas which litter Indian television. In this respect, it recalls the hugely popular Ramayana serialisation of the 1980s in which most of India famously stopped everything they were doing to religiously watch the programme every Sunday. Despite the interesting special effects (as demonstrated in this clip on YouTube of the exchange of divine weapons between Rama and Ravana: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8NNW8LQQJQ) there was clearly something to this serialised epic which hooked over 100 million across the country and won itself a Limca world record (something which NDTV Imagine are hoping to recapture with a rejigged version).
Shakuntala…An Eternal Love Story shows that Indian television production has come some way since the 80s, technically speaking, but the melodrama remains. “Kaun thee voh? (Who was she?)”, asks Dushyanta in agony (as the heart-wrenching score suggests) after their first meeting, “Where can I find her?” Nevertheless, although not for the purist, such stylised dramatics and disregard for realism are in fact very much in keeping with Sanskrit drama. Kalidasa himself romanticised the original story, taken from the Mahabharata, and added a happily ever after ending in keeping with the conventions of drama; STAR One is merely following his example.
Shakuntala…An Eternal Love Story is broadcast on STAR One every Monday to Thursday at 9:30pm IST. To watch the suitably dramatic promo on YouTube click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJOMTz46kME&NR=1
Sanskrit Literature 
a lovely serial sakuntala is my favourite one , specially dusyanth as gautam is amazing nd smart guy and neha is cute ,lovely chemistry btwen them.
am not into tv serials per se but a chance promo got me hooked into “Shakuntala”. Obviously this is a modern adaptation and there appears to be deviations from the Kalidasa version. Do not know how the script will unfold but I do like the handling of the subject. There may be inconsistencies in the depiction of the era it attempts to portray but it is not unusual for adaptations to take such liberties.
Overall there is a magical quality about the play. Neha’s and Gautam’s acting is quite restrained (compared to most soap) but the emotions has been communicated with such sincerity that it touches viewer’s heart. The casting is perfect. They look celestial and pure like the charactors they portray. Neha is extra-ordinary and is a very talented actor. Gautam in some of the scenes transcends the studio parameters of giving a shoot – invades your imagination and lingers long after the actual telecast. If he reads this – I want to say that he has a great future and should be more discerning about accepting other roles.
I watch the serial telecast on StarOne in the UK at 7pm. It is not always easy to be home by 7pm. So it would be good to have a staggered (repeat) telecast.
Best Wishes
me too…….dude
dushyant(gautam)is awesome…..he s very handsome and a gud actor. i wud lke 2 tl dat the persn who z plyng the chrctr of KARAN z very vry guuuuud luuukng. i luvd hm… gud luck.:-)
osey evare nuvvu?
Dushyant is very hundsame n Very very Very Cuteeeee Guy. N Sakuntala is also very gud girl i like her Dreesing… n also her Speach, n both ( Dushyant & Sakuntala ) love story is very nice,i never missed any episod of Sakuntala.
Dushyant is sooooo sexy!he’s a prince charming really! i want more photos of him to be uploaded here.well i am a big fan of him n his real name gautam sharma is too elegant.
shakuntala u know even i can leave my studies but u n dushyant plz never i have never missed even one episode also i’m mad in ur serial shakuntala so beautiful lovely n dushyant n shakuntala i just love their smiless
gautam u r just so handsome. i luv u soooooooooooo much.i love ur smile.i am never been so crazy abt any guy like this.i am in 8th std but still i never miss even 1 episode of urz.and neha u simple rox.
Dushyant is my favourite. his smile takes my heart. im really mad abt dushyant & shakunthala. i never miss any episode. dey both simply rocks.i like anusuya & priyamvada also.
Shakuntala is one of my favourite drama.I like the characters so much all playing very well.But the one whom I like the most is GAUTAM.
Gautam YOU ARE BEST. i like you and your personality and everything of yours,your eyes,your lipsing style and one the most YOUR SMILE. when i first saw u in serial i got crazy for a meeting wd u.
Neha I like ur way of speaking and I will say u are so pretty and charming.
The serial is truly good. definitely the reserach team ,must have done a lot of hard work n the characters are well selected. though new , gautam sharma is a skilled actor, his expressions are damn good.The credit also goes to shakuntala , the way she throws her tone.Designing of dress have been done well. The dialogues are written well keeping in mind od an epic.Its really a hattsoff to the producers and reserach team , who have taken this genre unlike other typical serials , which are more easy.
Nice Gautam & Neha pics
WE JUST LOVE YOR SMILE GAUTAM (dushyant).NEHA MEHTA(shakuntala) YOU ARE SO CHARMING. WE ARE CRAZY ABOUT THE DRAMA.WE JUST HAVE NOTHING TO SAY. WE ARE SPEECHLESS.LOVE YOU….WE ALSO LIKE THE REST OF THE CHARECTORS,KARAN,ANUSUYA,PRIYAMVADA,GAURI,SENAPATI VEER,KALKI,MRITHUNJAY,RISHI SHATANAN,RISHI VAR,RISHI KANV,MAHARAJ AND MAHARANI TOO…WE ALSO LOVE THE TITLE SONG
BYE.:)
its amazing to compare hrithik rocks in big screen while dushanth as(gautam)in small screen now, both r sizzling in personality ,iwant gautam to handle many such and diffrent projects to make his flow in tv serials continue ,and rest all plays well and its a hit…..
The whole cast is well chosen n the serial is just awsm ………
specially gautam is So…………. cute
his smile is breath takn……………neha mehta luks best in her voilet dress………..
hey can anyone please tell me that is there anyway to see the recap i missed the friday episode when they both were in a cage …. r these serials out on cd
on youtube search sakuntala 12th june u will get 2 parts enjoy it
Dushyant, you are fabulous and simply amazing.
You actually resemble a prince. I am glad that you have been selected for this role. You are dashing and extremely smart and cool. I am short of words to praise you.
I like you veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy much. Plz don’t leave this serial in between. I cannot bear to see anyone else REPLACING you.
YOU ARE FASCINATING. BEST OF LUCK……….
Gautam (Doshyant)you are so cute and handsome.. I really like you.. I watch “Shakuntala” only for you.. All the best..
🙂
i watch shakuntala, regularly infact its the only drama serial i watch punctually bcuz of the main character SHKUNTALA,she is very beautiful n in the drama serial she looks extra ordinarily beautiful.
SAKUNKALA IS MY MOST FAV SERIAL I EVER SEEN. I LIE IT VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV MUCH……………… NEHA&GAUTAM ARE THE BEST COUPLE OF INDIAN TV
hi!
I want to say that Shakuntala drama serial is very romantic love story
i regulary watch this drama i never like to see any drama serial but i just watch this darama and this is just because of neha mehta (Shakuntala) she is very bold and beautiful
i like her smile very much she is very cute lovely lady
Ali pakistan
03008130208
DUSHYANT, i like u sooooooooooooooooooo much.i love ur smile.u r my favouriate.i also like shakuntla.her way of talking is very good.
u guys r just great .the charters enacted by every person in the show is just great .ALL THE BEST
Shakuntala has been my favourite of all.Dushyant and Shakuntala played by Gautam and Neha are the current hearthrobs.Gautam,you look very handsome and Neha,there is no end of your beauty.Keep it up!
hi.dushant u have taken my breath wat else i can say about u.u r so cuteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.i wish i could see u in reall.
hi .i lovu dushant so mchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
gautam sharma u really roc…ur smile just makes my heart go hmmmmmmmmmmm…..u perfectly justify the role of king dushyant.all d best
This is one of the most romantic shows ive ever seen;
DUSHYANT AND SHAKUNTALA: A very cute love story,and an awesome picturisation. wat a chemistry between tem.(right from the chidhood fights to the romantic stares.)And the dushyant guy’s got a killer smile.(hope their story has an happy ending):)
KARAN AND SHAKUNTALA: A poetic love which has not yet been discovered.I feel very sad for the karans character.anyways if you consider it as a friendship its really the best one.the sacrifices karan makes are worth watching.get going…….!!1
SENAPATI VEER AND GAURI: Yet another love story, which has everything that is needed to evoke an viewers interest.the guy who plays the veer character is just the best choice for it.i loved the old gauri but by now started liking the new gauri.;)
KALKI and her BRO: thought tem to be villians but ended up being comedians.but ii guess they have a lot more role to play.
OVER ALL SHAKUNTALA IS REALLY AN ETERNAL LOVE STORY WHICH CAPTIVATES EVERYONE WHO WATCHES IT. MY ONLY WISH IS TAT IT SHULD BE AIRED 1 HOUR A DAY.BUT ANYWAYS I WUD RATE IT EXCELLENT GET GOIN THE SHAKUNTATLA CREW.
hiiiii. i just like this serial… and the dressing of SAKUNTALA is owsome. and dushyanta is toooooooooooo good and charm. having a great personality as loverrrrrr.
This is real love story
I love Shakuntala……..
i luv shakuntala…….
especially gautam de dushyant he is so handsome n cute luv him soooo muccchhhhhh…….
neha.. she is really a beauty her all dresses the pink the purple all r very lovely …..both make a perfect real life couple.. u all rock
shakuntala i love u and i know that u r beautiful
i want your videous with dushant now i love u i want that u have to realy marr with dushant i love him i want to see your rumance with dushant now
Hey,dushyant ur really superb and marvellous…….
i daily watch shakuntala only coz of very gud chemistry between 2 cute luv birds…….
i luv uuuuuu gautam
U really rock d show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gautam u r really doing good as king Dushyant. Your smile is just great. It is you who really rocks in the show. Kudos to you n keep it up…
wot 2 tel abt shakuntala.. Its my fav serial.. Hav watched each epi atleast 4 times.. It totaly rocks.. Gautam has taken my heart away.. I hav actualy fallen in love wid him.. He is on d desktop of my pc, on d walpaper o my cel.. On my mind.. Totaly crazy abt him, wana meet him atleast one in life.. Even shakuntala is damn gud.. D serial rocks.. Dushyant rocks n kep up d gud work, luv…nikita
my heartbeat skips at every smile u giv dushyant.. Luv u soooooo much.. Realy looked damn handsome in white n d blue dress 🙂 take care n keep charmin n winnin r hearts, al d best gautam… Nikita
I LOVE U DUSHYANT U R MY DREAM BOY I AM MADLY IN LOVE WITH U MEET ME ONCE
gautam……..u r avery good actor…….u hv a very fascinating personality…i hv never gone so crazy for a guy..even no bollywood actor is as favourite of mine as u r….u are really a prince….u justify your character very well……keep up ur work…wish u a very god luck in ur future…. and shakuntala.. u r d soul of this serial ..what else to praise u…u r fabulous
IT IS SO INTERESTING DRAMA SERIAL.I WATCH IT DAILY WITH MY FAMILY.I WANT TO THANK ALL THE TEEM OF THIS DRAMA TO GIVE US A REAL LOVE STORY IN THE FORM OF THIS DRAMA
pleeeeeeeeeeeez dun want Kalki’z bro 2 marry shakuntala……
dun make it happen……..
juz want 2 c shakuntala nd dushant 2gether….
shakuntala, Your smile is just great. You really a beauty her your all dresses in pink the purple all r very lovely and i want to marry you immediatly and after marry our son will born like a Bharat.
luuuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvvv u
I like this drama so much especially Neha Mehta AND GAUTAM they look so cute I think this is the best drama ever seen in my whole life .neha-v.cute,delicate like a lotus flower. gautam-too handsome,lovely
I love u (Dushyant) Gautam. I want to know Everything about U.
dushyant(gautam) you are too cool.
fit ha
i like shakuntala
u r very handsome dushyant & u r very beautiful shakuntala.
all the best 4 ur further success.
hey hi shakuntala and dushanth i like u both very much and shakuntal u are beautyfull ya and dushath u r no words a tall u awosome in serial ya!
HI DUSHYANT U R VERY CUTE,HANDSOME,DASHING,SMART AND GOOD LOOKING.
THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.SHAKUNTALA
U R VERY BEAUTIFUL LIKE A FLOWER.DUSHYANT I WATCH THIS SERIAL ONLY
FOR U.I HAVE NEVER GONE CRAZY FOR A GUY.EVEN NO BOLLYWOOD ACTOR
IS AS FAVOURITE OF MINE AS U R.U R THE BEST.
This is a WORST serial on TV i ever seen. I think the team of Shakuntala never read ‘SHAKUNTALAM’.
These people are changing the History……
This serial should not be telecast……
u r right that they r changing the story but it is not a worst serial
dushyant u r too0o0o0o0 much fantabulous….. juz luv ur style ur smile ur dresses…… plzzz make it up wd shakuntala u luk best wen u r with her….
gautam u luk so cuteeeeeeee and neha u also luk beautiful but gautam is rocking and i want that u dont fight this much bcoz of ur fight serial us becoming boring. be frinds and start ur love story
Gautam u and neha are doing a realy good job u have made our evening a bit more interesting Thanks
shakunthala is just a beautiful serial worth waching & the characters r well selected every character is well played i just wait for the serial to watch.
gautam and neha look great together..just hope they remain in the serial till the end
Gautam u and neha are doing an awesome job we love to see u together .Keep up doing the gud job .God Bless Both Of u……………..
Hi Gautam. How r u? I just dont have any words to say. I am attracted towards you since the day i saw you in your college. I want to meet you. Hope you will not disappoint me. I will be waiting for reply. I hope i will c u soon. Take care. Luv Purni
GAUTAM U R JUST TOOOO COOL.I HAV NEVER SEEN ANYBODY SO CUTE AND COOL THAN U.I LOVE TO SEE NEHA ALSO.SHE IS VERY BEAUTIFUL.KEEP ROCKING ALWAYS
hi,
you guys are just great..!! i like shakuntala and dushyant..they look very sweet when they are to-gether..!! i also like shakuntala’s hair and her dresses..dushyant smile is not too bad..its very gud..!! i watch every episode of yours…keep doing up guys..!!
i love shakuntala’s acting
neha &gautam have good chemistry in them.
dushyant + shakuntala = a good chemistry
‘SHAKUNTALA an eternal love saga’
i was knowing the story but watching it; is just like experiencing
the story & it is amazing . Neha & Gautam are superb.
This is one of the most romantic n captivating show ive ever seen;
DUSHYANT AND SHAKUNTALA(The main characters): Perfectly fit to their characters. Ve Very natural performance. Clear every single emotion in a very delicate manner.Very good picturisation. wat a chemistry between tem.(right from the chidhood fights to the romantic stares.)hope their story has a happy ending.
KARAN AND SHAKUNTALA: A poetic love.Gives a glance of true friendship. Script of karan suits his character. Most of his emotions are conveyed by his expressions.
SENAPATI VEER AND GAURI: Good performance shown by both characters.
KALKI and her BROTHER: villians of a story are not liked. But Kalki’s acting is very natural. her expressions and her eyes speak out her words. she has very negative expressions which make her a true villan. Her brother needs to indulge himself to character.
———-
Overall music, background, soundeffects and sceneries are gorgeous.
Shakuntala is a real eternal love story.
this is the most outstanding love story which every one enjoys and i love the actors specially gautam sharma he has done an awesome job,he has done a natural acting .
hey ppl…..who evr is a fan of gautam…….lemme tell u he even comes in an add of fair and handsome wid shahrukh……….
welllll……….EVN M CRAZY ABT GAUTAM……MA REAL NAME IS NEHA……BUT………M NOT DAT NEHA WHO ALWAYZ REMAINS WID GAUTAM……i wana ake her place
gautam is doing marvellous job in serial,i cannot miss dis serial,neha is looking gorgeous ,outstanding acting by both of them,dushayant’s smile attracts everyone n karan is also doing v well
i am in love with the serial the moment i saw watching it. i am in love with the ashram life,its so pure, serene.all parts of the serial were briliantaly dramatised.every frame of it is beautiful.
music of the serial is really melodius.i love the music.i do sometimes wish, i would be living in that era.
i liked all the characters in the serial. everybody did a good job. specially i liked dushayant played by gautam ,he looks cute.i liked shakuntala also.I liked rishi Kanva’s charater too. he just fits the role perfectly.Most
I liked is KARAN’s role.I don’t know his real name. anybody knows it? HIS LOOKS JUST STUNNING.
WISH U GUYS GOOD LUCK.
KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK.
hey dushyant n shakuntala[gautam n neha] m a huge FAN of ur serial….u both look gr8 in d serial…I just love ur both`s smile…itz soo cute!!! ….ur costumes r too good n so is ur actin …both r doin a gr8 job!!!continue d same ….
Hi,shakuntala serial everybody doing their role sincerely.Gautam specially urs way of saving shakuntala frm clutch of mritunjay,handling&caring even karan’s feeling,excellent way of showing tender luv care affection towards shakuntala marvellous.something that leaves irresistable impulse 2 watch time&again.carry on great future.
Nehatoo good depicted as bholi bhali innocent,breathtaking beauty at a glance.
Even veer,gauri karan did well.
BEST WISHES
Hi neha,u doing superb in this serial but rumours around u r leaving this serial in between.public demand pl if it’s true don’t leave.pl reply me on ranjusinha74@gmail.com
BEST OF LUCK
i luv u RD (DUSHANT) U R SOOO CUTE ND DASHING I SERIOUSLY WANNA MEET U ONCE IN MY LIFETIME …
Gautam is really really doing well in the Show Shakuntala.I’m short of words to express his excellency the way he acted in the serial.His every bit of expression is breathtaking.
The way he has acted as a son,a brother, a prince and above all a lover is the best I’ve ever seen.His looks, voice and smile are damn good.Shakuntala is my favourite serial and I never miss any of the episode of it.May God bless you with lots of success Gautam.The way he delivers his dialogues is superb.Is really true that even many of the Bollywood actors can not perform the way you’ve portrayed the character of dushyant.I wish this serial to continue for another 2-3 years.
shakuntala[neha] u r seriously too good n r fit for the role.dushyant[GAUTAM] I MUST SAY U R FABULOUS!!!! I love ur expressions,ur smile,the way u talk,the way u walk n in all everything about u.itz like i thought i would never go crazy behind a tv serial actor but u changed my conviction.i read da scraps above n wasnt astonished to noe dat many mor girls r behind u.i noe u r a busy handsome guy but still i m waitin 4 a chance to meet u if possible.LOVE YOU LOADS!!!! -SHREYA
i just luv dushyant [gautam sharma] he is too gud i just luv him……………………………….
hey can anyone please tell me that is there any way to see the previous episodes ? i missed the friday one wen they were both in the cage ? please help me out ? r these serials available on cd ? if anyone knows a solution please reply me at
maloney_hell.game@hotmail.com
This Serial is my most favourite serial after Prithviraj Chauhan,which was also produced by sagar arts only.
Neha Mehta is really cute like a’pretty doll’with a sweet & innocent face.Ireally like her.
But Gautam Sharma is my favourite of all.He is very handsome,very dashing,very sweet & very smart.The role of king Dushyant is suiting his personality.I had fell in love with him.Gautam, I’m just 16,but then also I’m proposing you for marriage, WILL YOU MARRY ME.”Agar Shaadi nahin kar sakte toh koi baat nahin,kam se kam mujhe apna dost toh bana hi sakte ho.”
Gautam,please apne kuch photograph toh net main daal do,hum fans ka bhi kuch bhala ho jayega.
Please Gautam, reply me on my E-ID:vishu1009@ymail.com,whenever you have time.LUV YOU.
I really appreciate that both GAUTAM & NEHA is the finest star cast for Dushyant & Shakuntala, really Moti Sagar is a very very good director & Gautam & Neha is Very very very Good Actor & Actress. I like the Shakuntala Serial & my heartest congratulation for whole team of Shakuntala Serial for Give us a very very good entertainment by great EPIC ABHIGYAAN SHAKUNTALAM.
good love story
it is an awesum love story.
I didn’t know people were so crazy about this serial.Anyhow I’m glad that a thing liked by me is a favourite with so many other people.I wanted to say a lot about the wonderful Shakuntala and Dushant but “THEY ARE AWSOME” that will suffice.
i like shakuntala .the role of shakuntala and dushyant is the best one thing i want to say please repeat this serial on saturnday and sunday
Hello all the fans of SHAKUNTALA SERIAL. This message is for you all. Friends, all those who really loves Gautam Sharma, they all can join him on ORKUT. On ORKUT, his account name is DUSHYANT-GAUTAM SHARMA. For more information contect me on my ORKUT ID i.e. vishu1009@coolmail.com.BYE FRIENDS & ENJOY.
i love dushanth smile and i love shakuntala
i love u gautam u r so cute.ur smile is too good. keep it up .u r good actor i like the show .
HI!! SHAKUNTALA IS MY FAVOURITE SERIAL……
I LOV D CHEMISTRY BTWN NEHA & GOUTAM……
HELLO, GAUTAM BHIYA AND NEHA DIDI .
YOUR COUPLE IS OSAM AND SWEET.
I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH U OR CHATOR CALL U.
WITH RESPECT
ARPITA
hi shakuntala and dushant iam i see your serial but don’t i understand .i like your couple so bee happy.my e-mail is Kohinoor.lama. in yahoo .love you both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i ama veryyyyyyyyyyyy big fan of serial shakuntala . dushyant is very good in looking so plsssssssss send me thhe pics of gautam sharma
i like the serial very much all the characters are well portrayed esp of dushyant and shakuntala. i love u dushyant. his smile is awesome. i want to see him in many more serials.
Shakuntala is really a lovely love story
Gautam…..the best person and Neha…too
Their communities on orkut and photos rockks..
DUSHYANT YOU R SO SMART N HANDSOME ACTOR N SHAKUNTALA IS SO SIMPLE N BEAUTIFUL.I HAV SEEN ALL THE EPISODES.NOW THIS SERIAL IS OVER. PIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ MAKE UR ENTRY IN ANY OTHER SERIAL SO THAT I CAN SEE THE MOST ROCKING COUPLE AGAIN.
where is he these days? no sign of him
its very nice story good job????????????????????????????????????????,