Mumbai: Manoj Bajpayee is set to take on one of the most challenging roles of his career as he portrays Mahatma Gandhi in filmmaker Sudhir Mishra’s upcoming film.
The yet-to-be-titled project will revolve around a crucial 21-day period surrounding India’s Independence, with Mishra exploring Gandhi’s decisions and personal journey during a defining phase of the country’s history.
“This new film focuses on an important yet lesser-known chapter of history, the 21 days in the life of Mahatma Gandhi during India’s independence,” Mishra was quoted as saying by IANS.
The filmmaker said the story will go beyond familiar historical accounts to delve into Gandhi’s personal experiences and choices during those pivotal days.
While India was on the verge of independence and Delhi was emerging as the centre of political power, Gandhi chose to follow a different path.
“At a time when the nation was stepping into freedom, and Delhi was becoming the center of power, Gandhi made an unexpected choice: he chose to walk away,” Mishra said.
“But by walking away, he did not retreat. He reinvented himself,” he added.
Mishra’s film will look beyond the well-known political developments of the period, focusing instead on the lesser-seen events and personal experiences unfolding behind the scenes.
“While history books record the surface events of that era, this story explores what lay beneath that famous choice and will depict the personal journey of a leader redefining his path,” the filmmaker said.
Rather than being a conventional biopic tracing Gandhi’s life from his early years to India’s Independence, the film will take a more focused approach.
The story will centre on those 21 pivotal days, exploring Gandhi’s state of mind, his decisions and his evolving role as a newly independent India began to take shape.
The project will also mark a career first for Bajpayee, who has never previously portrayed Mahatma Gandhi on screen. He will headline the film as Gandhi, stepping into the role of one of the most portrayed historical figures in Indian cinema.
The collaboration also brings Bajpayee and Mishra together for a story that will focus heavily on Gandhi’s personal struggles, thoughts and choices rather than portraying him solely through the lens of his political legacy.
Saurabh Shukla has also joined the cast, although details about his character are being kept under wraps.
The untitled film is being backed by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, known for films such as ‘Mulk’, ‘Article 15’ and ‘Thappad’.
Details regarding the rest of the cast, shooting schedule and release date are yet to be announced.