|
The
producers plan a three-season series based on historian
Ramachandra Guha's biographical books "Gandhi Before India" and
"Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World".
Sameer Nair, the managing director of Indian production company
Applause Entertainment, says that the extended format "much in
the vein of (Netflix series) 'The Crown'" allows greater scope
than, for instance, the films on Gandhi's life.
"This is really a coming of age story. It's a very rich story
that few people know about. You know the man, you don't know the
story," Nair told Reuters during a break from filming at
London's George Tavern.
The first season, made up of eight episodes, went into
production in India at the start of the year and is being filmed
in Mumbai and Gujarat as well as Britain.
Directed by filmmaker Hansal Mehta, actor Pratik Gandhi, 44,
takes on the title role.
No relation of Mahatma, he has already played his namesake on
stage for the last eight years in India.
"Unknowingly, I was prepping for this day," he said.
Despite the preparation, Pratik Gandhi feels the pressure of
conveying the great man. His response is to anchor his
performance in Gandhi's human qualities.
"He was not a born great person. He was not a superman or
superhuman," he said. "All these experiences of his life made
him what he became. And those capabilities are there in each one
of us."
Director Mehta says the series seeks to engage younger
audiences. They could be drawn by the decision to cast British
actor Tom Felton, known for his performances in the film
adaptations of the Harry Potter books.
Felton plays Josiah Oldfield, who became a friend of Gandhi when
he studied law in London.
The actor, 36, said he could not resist the role.
"Clearly the world would look very different without him. To be
part of realising why he became the way he became and how his
actions were, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me to say
'yes, I'd love to be part of this'," he said.
(Reporting by Hanna Rantala; editing by Barbara Lewis)
[© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
