'Harry Potter' star Tom Felton joins Hansal Mehta's 'Gandhi'
From the grounds of Hogwarts to the lands of India. On Thursday, Deadline revealed that Tom Felton, globally recognized for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, has come aboard the upcoming Hindi streaming series Gandhi. The series is directed by Hansal Mehta and produced by Applause Entertainment under Sameer Nair's leadership. Felton will be stepping into the shoes of Josiah Oldfield, "Gandhi's first and best friend during a period he spent in London while studying Law."
Felton's role and other key cast members in 'Gandhi'
Felton's character, Oldfield, was a co-founder of the Vegetarian Society of London and an admirer of Indian culture. He played a pivotal role in shaping Gandhi's path. The titular role of Gandhi will be portrayed by Mehta's frequent collaborator Pratik Gandhi, while his wife Bhamini Oza will play Kasturba Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's wife. The series also features British actors James Murray, Jonno Davies, Molly Wright, Simon Lennon, Ralph Adeniyi, Libby Mai, and Lindon Alexander.
Felton expressed excitement for 'Gandhi' project
Felton expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "I'm excited to be part of the journey of telling the story of Gandhi's early years in London. It's an important aspect of history that hasn't been told on screen before, and to be working with Hansal and Pratik is an honor and pleasure." The actor has a diverse acting portfolio comprising Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Feed, the Netflix film The Forgotten Battle, and Season 3 of The Flash.
'Gandhi' series inspired by historian Ramachandra Guha's works
The series draws inspiration from the books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi - The Years that Changed the World, penned by historian Ramachandra Guha. The series will delve into Gandhi's early years in India, the UK, and South Africa, providing a detailed exploration of his life and work. "The casting of some exceptional international actors to our ensemble is even more exciting as we prepare to take our labor of love to audiences worldwide," said Mehta.
