By
Tanveer Zaidi (Actor, Author, Educationist)
A TV series on Sony LIV that explores the political maneuvering and decisions leading up to India’s independence in 1947. The series is based on the book Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. It stars Sidhant Gupta as Jawaharlal Nehru, Arif Zakariya as Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Chirag Vohra as Mahatma Gandhi, and Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Nikkhil Advani directs the series.
The series is based on careful research and shows the political and emotional chaos of the time.
Casting was critical to find actors who could embody the iconic leaders.
The prosthetics done by Jagdish Dada & team made sure the transformations were seamless.
Sidhant Gupta was cast as Nehru because of his striking resemblance to Jawaharlal Nehru.
Chirag Vohra was cast as a younger Mahatma Gandhi. Advani told Vohra that he was born to play the role, but he had to lose 15 kilos.
Rajendra Chawla studied Patel’s consistent tone and Gujarati accent to capture his essence. Advani praised Patel’s strong, decisive persona.
Nikhil Advani said, “We changed the westernized angle of Freedom at Midnight.”
