02 October,2026 10:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pratik Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi. Pics via Instagram and X
Pratik Gandhi has spent nearly a decade portraying Mahatma Gandhi on stage, but stepping into the role for Hansal Mehta's upcoming series Gandhi gave the actor an opportunity to explore the man beyond the familiar image. Speaking to Variety India on Gandhi Jayanti, Gandhi said his experience of playing the freedom fighter has been less about imitation and more about understanding the contradictions that made him human.
The actor first played Gandhi in the Gujarati stage production Mohan No Masalo in 2015-16 and continued with the monologue for years. He now brings that experience to the screen, with the first season of Hansal Mehta's series covering Gandhi's life from the age of 18 to 45.
For Gandhi, the most fascinating part of portraying the Mahatma was understanding the gap between his public image and personal struggles. He pointed out that qualities such as determination could also be viewed as stubbornness, while his commitment to the freedom movement came at a cost to his personal relationships.
"The sacrifices he made are beyond imagination," he said, noting that Gandhi's dedication to his larger goal could make him appear like "a bad father and husband" in some people's eyes.
Rather than seeing these contradictions as flaws that diminish Gandhi, Pratik believes they reveal how he evolved. "He was never a born Mahatma. He was never born with the qualities of a Mahatma," he said. According to the actor, Gandhi created the figure the world eventually came to know through his "failures", "fears" and "mistakes".
Pratik also recalled discovering the transformation in Gandhi's appearance, from a young man who enjoyed dressing up while studying in London to someone who eventually adopted the simple dhoti. For the actor, that change reflected a much deeper shift in Gandhi's priorities.
Playing the character for years has also influenced Pratik's own approach to life. Coming from a family of teachers in Surat, he said simplicity was already part of his upbringing, but researching Gandhi strengthened that belief. "Simplicity is the biggest virtue we can have," he said, linking the philosophy to the minimalist way of life he had observed growing up.
Pratik also reflected on Gandhi's ability to exercise influence without conventional physical power. "Power does not come from physical strength; it comes from an indomitable will," he said, adding that he feels "the world needs more Gandhi now than ever before."
On screen, Gandhi expands considerably beyond his stage performance. While Mohan No Masalo focused on Gandhi's early years until the incident in which he was thrown off a train, the series explores a much wider period of his life. Pratik confirmed that the show is currently in the final stage of post-production, with its platform and release date yet to be announced.
