This collection examines the plethora of ways in which Hindu role models have been used in the past and continue to be used to shape, challenge, reject and transform social and political norms, ways which affect people s everyday lives in a variety of domestic and public contexts and so are playing for real. The essays show that, in the age of TV epics and multi-media technology, religious role models retain considerable significance. They also demonstrate exceptionally clearly how such role models have been variously constructed to suit or challenge different dominant ideologies in a variety of eras and social settings.