Manoj Bajpayee to Portray Mahatma Gandhi in Sudhir Mishra’s Historic Drama
Filmmakers Anubhav Sinha and Sudhir Mishra are teaming up for a feature film centered on a lesser-known chapter from Mahatma Gandhi’s life. National Award-winning actor Manoj Bajpayee will take on the lead role, portraying Gandhi on screen for the first time in his career. Produced by Sinha and Narendra Hirawat under Benaras Mediaworks and presented by NH Studioz, the project also stars acclaimed actor Saurabh Shukla in a key role.
Set against the backdrop of India’s Independence, the narrative focuses on a pivotal 21-day period in Gandhi’s life. Rather than covering his entire journey, the story examines his decision to step away from Delhi precisely as the city became the epicenter of political power. The film explores the personal and political motivations behind this move, offering a rare, intimate look at the leader’s internal and strategic choices during a transformative moment in history.
Director Sudhir Mishra explained that while history textbooks document the public events of the era, the film delves into what lay beneath Gandhi’s unexpected choice. Mishra noted that by walking away from the political center, Gandhi was not retreating but rather reinventing himself and redefining his path. The project marks Mishra’s return to feature filmmaking after a hiatus, adding to a celebrated career that includes iconic works like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and three National Film Awards.
The venture highlights a major creative collaboration between Mishra and Anubhav Sinha, who has backed socially conscious cinema such as Mulk, Article 15, and Thappad. For Bajpayee, embodying Mahatma Gandhi adds another milestone to a distinguished body of work recognized for versatile and grounded performances. Further details regarding the rest of the ensemble cast and production timelines will be revealed by the makers in the coming months. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us and if you have anything to share do comment below and share your thoughts.
