Pratik Gandhi’s Gandhi Series Shines at TIFF 50: A Standing Ovation and a Historic First for India

The 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 50) turned into a stage of national pride when Hansal Mehta’s Gandhi web series, starring Pratik Gandhi, became the first-ever Indian series to premiere in TIFF’s prestigious Primetime slate. The world watched as history unfolded and when the international audience gave the show a thunderous standing ovation, it was clear that Indian storytelling had arrived on the global stage with unmatched power.

A Standing Ovation That Made History

Pratik Gandhi couldn’t hide his emotions when the packed TIFF theatre rose to its feet after watching the first two episodes. Sharing the moment on Instagram, he wrote:

"A very special day when #Gandhi premiered at #tiff50. Grateful and blessed to be here with the amazingly passionate team Gandhi, beautiful audience at TIFF and overwhelming response with a standing ovation, the joy in the air and that smile on all our faces."

For Gandhi, this wasn’t just about a performance — it was about India’s cultural soft power making waves globally. He said it best: “This is a big moment not only for me, not only for the team but for the whole country.”

How Pratik Gandhi Became Gandhi: A Decade in the Making

Pratik’s journey into Gandhi’s role almost feels destined. For over 10 years, he has been performing a stage monologue titled “Mohan’s Masala”, where he played young Gandhi across three languages — English, Hindi, and Gujarati — in a single day. This feat even earned him a spot in the Limca Book of Records.

Reflecting on it, he said: “I had no clue where this journey would lead. I think I was somewhere preparing for this to happen.”

When Hansal Mehta, who had earlier directed Pratik in Scam 1992, began looking for the perfect actor to play Mohandas Gandhi, there was no doubt. Pratik’s years of stage experience and his ability to bring depth without judgment made him the natural choice.

He explained his process: “I approached Gandhi the same way I approached Harshad Mehta in Scam 1992. I never judged him. Nor did I put him on a pedestal by thinking he is the Mahatma.”

From Engineer to National Icon

Pratik Gandhi’s success wasn’t overnight. Born in Surat to schoolteacher parents, he studied Industrial Engineering and worked full-time jobs while chasing his theatre dreams. Between 2004 and 2016, he worked at National Productivity Council and later at Reliance Infrastructure, living in a cramped one-room-kitchen flat with his family.

During tough times, he did odd jobs like installing TV towers and anchoring shows. His breakthrough came with the Gujarati hit Bey Yaar (2014), and the National Award-winning Wrong Side Raju (2016) gave him the courage to quit his ₹25 lakh per annum engineering job.

Then came Scam 1992, where his portrayal of Harshad Mehta made him a household name. The performance was so powerful that Shabana Azmi told him it was the “best performance she had seen in 20 years”.

The Gandhi Series: A Fresh Perspective

Based on historian Ramachandra Guha’s books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, the series spans three seasons.

• Season 1 (screened at TIFF) explores 1888–1915, Gandhi’s formative years: his youth in India, law student life in London, and his transformative 23 years in South Africa.
  

• Bhamini Oza Gandhi (Pratik’s real-life wife) plays Kasturba Gandhi.

  

• Tom Felton (yes, Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter!) plays Gandhi’s English friend Josiah Oldfield, adding international star appeal.

  

• AR Rahman’s music gives the show its soul, blending history with emotion.

  

As Pratik said: “It’s about Mohan we don’t know much about. We got a standing ovation at TIFF, and that was extremely overwhelming.”"

National Pride and Industry Cheers

The reaction back home in India has been euphoric.

• AR Rahman called it an honor to be part of the “first Indian series at TIFF’s Primetime slate.”

• Hansal Mehta said the moment was “historic and humbling”, comparing it to his TIFF premiere of Shahid in 2012.

• Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment called it a “moment of immense pride for Indian storytelling.”

• Fans across social media cheered Pratik with messages like “You’re making India and Gujarat proud!”
  

Global Impact: What’s Next?

TIFF’s Primetime program has earlier featured names like Alfonso Cuarón, Shawn Levy, and Steven Knight. To now see an Indian series stand alongside these giants is a landmark moment.

Hansal Mehta summed it up: “This is the beginning of something special for the world. Gandhi’s story should resonate globally and inspire change.”

For Pratik Gandhi, TIFF wasn’t just a festival screening. It was his international launch, and judging by the response, this story of a young Mohan before he became the Mahatma is set to travel far and wide.

As Pratik himself said: “This is a big moment for the whole country.”

Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab! (FAQs)

Q1. Why is Pratik Gandhi’s Gandhi series special at TIFF? Because it’s the first Indian series ever to premiere at TIFF’s prestigious Primetime slate — a huge recognition for Indian content.

Q2. What part of Gandhi’s life does the series cover? Season 1 explores 1888–1915, focusing on young Mohandas Gandhi in India, London, and South Africa — the years that shaped him into the Mahatma.

Q3. Who plays Kasturba Gandhi and Gandhi’s foreign friend? Pratik’s real-life wife Bhamini Oza Gandhi plays Kasturba, while Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter) plays Josiah Oldfield.

Q4. How did Pratik Gandhi prepare for this role? He unknowingly prepared for a decade by performing Gandhi in his Gujarati stage play Mohan’s Masala, across three languages.

Q5. Who is behind the series’ music? Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman, who described being part of this project as an “honor.”