Applause Entertainment is producing a multi-season drama series on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, drawing comparisons to Netflix's acclaimed series, The Crown. Sameer Nair, the Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, has stated that the extended format of a series, "much in the vein of The Crown," allows for a greater scope in storytelling compared to films about Gandhi's life.
The series, titled Gandhi, is directed by Hansal Mehta and stars Pratik Gandhi in the lead role. Pratik Gandhi, who has portrayed Mahatma Gandhi on stage for eight years, said he feels the pressure of portraying the great man, and is anchoring his performance in Gandhi's human qualities. The show is based on two biographies by historian Ramachandra Guha: Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World. The producers are planning for a three-season show.
The first season, consisting of eight episodes, has been filmed in Mumbai, Gujarat, and the United Kingdom. Production commenced in India at the beginning of 2024, and filming for the first season wrapped up in August 2024, with a release expected in 2025. The series will explore Gandhi's life and travels before he became known as "Mahatma". It will portray his early life, including his time studying law in London in 1888 and his subsequent 23 years in South Africa. The series aims to portray Gandhi's journey from a young age, highlighting aspects of his life that are not widely known.
Hansal Mehta aims to engage younger audiences with the series. Tom Felton, known for his role in the Harry Potter films, has been cast as Josiah Oldfield, a friend of Gandhi's from his time in London. Felton expressed his excitement about being part of a project that explores why Gandhi became the figure he was and how his actions impacted the world.
Siddhartha Basu, who collaborated with Sameer Nair on Kaun Banega Crorepati, serves as a historical consultant, factual advisor, and creative consultant for the series. A.R. Rahman will be composing the music for the show. The series is written by Vaibhav Vishal, Hema Gopinathan, Sehaj Maini, Karan Vyas, Felix Von Stumm and Yashna Malhotra.
The production team includes Mukesh Chhabra as the casting director in India and Shakyra Dowling as the international casting director. Shashank Tere is the head of production design, and Pia Benegal is designing the costumes. Pratham Mehta is the head cinematographer. The series is being produced with a global audience in mind and is expected to be filmed in Gujarati, Hindi, and English to ensure authenticity. The first season will cover the first 45 years of Gandhi's life.
