The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) red carpet became the unexpected setting for a budding friendship between Indian actor Pratik Gandhi and "Harry Potter" star Tom Felton. The two actors, who share the screen in the upcoming Hansal Mehta web series "Gandhi," were seen cheerfully posing together alongside Mehta and other cast members.
The connection between Gandhi and Felton extends beyond their on-screen collaboration. Felton, known for his portrayal of Draco Malfoy, shared a photo on Instagram, referring to Gandhi as his "brother in arms". Gandhi warmly responded, commenting, "Cheers to my first friend in England, the innocent, emotional and funny @t22felton. Can't wait to have you in India".
In Hansal Mehta's "Gandhi," Felton plays Josiah Oldfield, a close confidant and the first friend Gandhi made while studying law in London. The series is based on the books "Gandhi Before India" and "Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World" by historian Ramachandra Guha. The series will unfold across three seasons, with the first covering the years between 1888 and 1915.
Music maestro A.R. Rahman, who is composing the score for the series, also expressed his excitement about Felton's involvement. Rahman shared a selfie with Felton, playfully captioning it "With Draco," and revealed that Felton is "a major part" of the "Gandhi" series.
Pratik Gandhi, who gained recognition for his role in "Scam 1992," will be portraying Mahatma Gandhi in the series. "The journey of Gandhi, so far, has been so fun," Gandhi said. "Working with Tom and other actors also marks my first collaboration with international artists, which makes me realise about my journey. I have realised that it has been very fulfilling". He also added, "Tom is a global star and a big name. I am supercharged about this addition… With international actors on board, it will bring a lot of authenticity to the story".
Felton also expressed his enthusiasm for the project, "I'm thrilled to be part of the journey in depicting Gandhi's early years in London," he told Deadline. "It's an important aspect of history that hasn't been told on screen before, and to be working with Hansal and Pratik is an honour and pleasure".
The series "Gandhi" aims to present Gandhi's philosophy and its relevance in today's world. According to Sameer Nair, MD, Applause Entertainment, the series will be significantly different from the 1982 Richard Attenborough film. The goal is to tell the story of Indian independence through a wider lens, involving numerous characters and exploring perspectives both for and against Gandhi. The makers are aiming for a December streaming launch.
"It's not just Gandhi, it's also about people who are with him, who were against him, the British and the whole situation," Nair said. "So, these three seasons are more like our 'The Crown' (Netflix)".
