With the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) just around the corner (September 4-14, 2025), filmmaker Hansal Mehta is facing a significant hurdle: the Canadian visas for his team are delayed. Mehta's upcoming series, "Gandhi," starring Pratik Gandhi in the titular role, is set to have its world premiere at the prestigious festival. This marks a historic moment as the first Indian series ever to be selected for TIFF's Primetime section.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, August 27th, Mehta appealed for assistance. "Can anybody help with visas at the Canadian High Commission in Delhi?" he wrote. "We're 10 days away from our world premiere at TIFF2025 and no sign of our visas. It's nearly 3 weeks since we sent our passports". The director's plea underscores the urgency of the situation, as the team's travel plans are now in jeopardy.

Earlier this month, Mehta had shared his excitement about "Gandhi" premiering at TIFF. He described the selection as "an audacious dream, born of belief and perseverance," and "a moment of pride" for Indian storytelling on the global stage. He also unveiled the first look of the show, featuring Pratik Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi with his hands folded in front of his chest, set against a backdrop of hundreds of men in white.

"Gandhi" is based on historian Ramachandra Guha's books "Gandhi Before India" and "Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World". The series chronicles the formative years of Mahatma Gandhi. Besides Pratik Gandhi, the series also features Bhamini Oza as Kasturba Gandhi.

Mehta and Pratik Gandhi have previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed series "Scam 1992" (2020), which garnered immense praise for its compelling storyline and outstanding performances. "Scam 1992" catapulted Pratik Gandhi to stardom.

The 50th edition of TIFF is scheduled to take place from September 4 to 14, 2025. Hansal Mehta's "Gandhi" is part of the festival's carefully curated PrimeTime slate. As the premiere date draws closer, Mehta's team is hoping for a swift resolution to the visa issue so they can attend the festival and present their work to the world.