Pratik Revels In The Role Of Mahatma

After Ben Kingsley, it is now Pratik Gandhi’s turn to play Mahatma Gandhi. The series, produced by Applause Entertainment and directed Hansal Mehta, has been shot in Gujarat and South Africa.

Says Pratik Gandhi, “It’s a multi-season series on Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s entire life. It tells the lesser-known stories which played an important role in shaping young Gandhi into a Mahatma. It also tells the stories of all his compatriots and contemporaries of the Freedom Movement – incredible personalities who, along with him, played an integral part in shaping the free and modern India.”

He adds, “It will be a reunion for me with a dream team of Hansal Mehta and Applause Entertainment. I am really grateful that I got an opportunity to create a character like Mahatma Gandhi on screen. I’m on a constant journey of learning and all these characters are adding immense value to my life as a person and as an actor.” The series is largely based on books and research done by Ramachandra Guha, he says.

Speaking of his approach to his roles, Pratik says, “Whenever I do any biopic, my whole idea is not to judge the character from one lens or from one angle. I don’t want to sympathize with an ethically-challenged character like Harshad Mehta but I want to empathise with the character and create a story around human emotions.”

And for added incentive to play the Mahatma, Pratik has his real-life wife Bhamini Oza playing Kasturba.

In an exclusive interaction, Pratik spoke of the joys of working with his life partner. “I am very happy. I have seen her working hard all these years and patiently preparing and waiting for that one big break. I have always felt she is a terrific actor. I have seen a lot of her work on stage. I love her both in dramatic roles and comedy.”