Applause Entertainment's ambitious international series, "Gandhi," directed by Hansal Mehta and starring Pratik Gandhi, has been selected for the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025. This marks a defining moment for Indian storytelling on the global stage, as it is the first Indian series to be showcased in TIFF's prestigious Primetime Programme. The 50th edition of TIFF commenced on September 4 and will continue until September 14.
The TIFF premiere will be attended by key members of the "Gandhi" team, including Sameer Nair, Hansal Mehta, Siddharth Khaitan, and lead actor Pratik Gandhi, along with Tom Felton and Kabir Bedi. The series boasts exceptional creative talent, with music by A.R. Rahman and writing by Vaibhav Vishal, Karan Vyas, Felix von Stumm, Hema Gopinathan, Sehaj Kaur Maini, and Yashna Malhotra. The series also benefited from the guidance of esteemed script advisors including Siddhartha Basu, historian and author Ramachandra Guha.
"Gandhi" is based on Ramachandra Guha's books "Gandhi Before India" and "Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World". Season one, titled "An Untold Story of Becoming, Season One (1888–1915)," traces Gandhi's early journey, from his adolescence in colonial India to his time as a law student in London, and his 23 transformative years in South Africa. Bhamini Oza will star alongside Pratik Gandhi as Kasturba Gandhi in the series.
Hansal Mehta described the selection as “an audacious dream, born of belief and perseverance,” and a moment of pride for Indian storytelling. Sameer Nair, Producer and Managing Director of Applause Entertainment, expressed that having "Gandhi" selected for TIFF's Primetime showcase is an honor and a moment of immense pride, not just for Applause, but for Indian storytelling. Hansal Mehta added that "Gandhi" has been the most creatively challenging and soul-stirring journey of his career.
The casting for "Gandhi" was led by Mukesh Chhabra (India) and Shakyra Dowling (International), with production design by Shashank Tere, costumes by Pia Benegal, and cinematography by Pratham Mehta. This team collectively brought authenticity, scale, and detail to the project.
Pratik Gandhi is also attending the India Film Festival of Alberta (IFFA) 2025, where his film "Phule" will be screened on September 14. Additionally, "Ghamasaan" will be showcased at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) on September 20. Pratik Gandhi expressed his excitement about sharing these stories with audiences in Canada and the US, and seeing how they resonate across cultures.
