Director Hansal Mehta presents Gandhi not as a hallowed saint but as a complex human being on a journey of self-discovery.
You may have seen Attenborough’s epic movie ‘Gandhi’ and may know about other smaller projects dealing with, for example, his troubled relationship with his sons. Now, a new streaming series will tell the untouched and insightful story of M.K. Gandhi’s defining years spent in London and South Africa, which paved the way for him to become a global icon of peace and nonviolence.
Director Hansal Mehta sees his ‘Gandhi’ as a story for our times, a journey of self-discovery by a man who grew into a world leader, leaving an unforeseen impact on history and collective consciousness.
Mehta wants to break the mold. Speaking to Variety magazine, he said, “We’re not trying to deify Gandhi; we see his story as a human story.” He believes the greatest figures deserve honest portrayals, warts and all. The series format allows a deep dive into Gandhi’s life, revealing the man behind the legend.
The series meant for OTT is based on noted historian Ramchandra Guha’s books ‘Gandhi Before India’ and ‘Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, 1914-1948’. The first season consists of eight 60-minute episodes and covers the first 45 years of Gandhi’s life. The second and third seasons will cover the years until his assassination at age 78.
Director Mehta is thrilled by the talented cast and the exciting addition of international actors. Pratik Gandhi, who has played the lead in many Gujarati movies, essays Bapu. He also performed a monologue on Gandhi, titled ‘Mohan Ka Masala’, some years ago and took the show to the US and Middle East. His wife in real life, Bhamini Oja, portrays Kasturba. The production recently welcomed Tom Felton, remembered for his role as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter franchise. He will play Gandhi’s British friend. Felton is joined by fellow British actor James Murray (‘Masters of the Air’ and ‘The Crown’).
The filming of the Gandhi series began in January this year by Applause Entertainment in India. Applause, Hansal Mehta, and actor Pratik Gandhi are the powerhouse trio that teamed for the hit series ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’ (2020), based on the life of the Indian stockbroker and fraudster.
Applause CEO Sameer Nair told Variety that season 1 of ‘Gandhi’ will complete shooting in July and be ready to stream by early 2025. He is shopping for an OTT platform to present the series on a subject of immense global interest.
Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ (1982), which won eight Oscars, including for Ben Kingsley in the eponymous role, reignited interest in the nonviolent resistance icon who inspired Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela and whose influence even President Barack Obama acknowledged. For Indians, Mahatma Gandhi is the Father of the Nation for leading the country’s freedom struggle.
