Piyush M Padwale
Acclaimed director Hansal Mehta and his team are yet to avail their Canadian visas as they prepare to leave for the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where Mehta’s series Gandhi is set to be featured.
He revealed that despite submitting their passports, nearly 3 weeks ago, there has been no update regarding the status of their visas. This delay prompted Mehta to publicly appeal to the Canadian High Commission in Delhi on X (Formerly Twitter) for urgent assistance.
TIFF has selected Gandhi for its primetime lineup, making it the very first Indian series to enter this highly regarded category, a landmark achievement for Indian storytelling on an international platform.
Adapted from historian Ramachandra Guha’s acclaimed works Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, the series is produced by Applause Entertainment. The cast includes Pratik Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi, Bhamini Oza Gandhi as Kasturba Gandhi and Hollywood actor Tom Felton in a significant part. The music has been given by maestro A.R Rahman, further amplifying global anticipation.
The first season, An Untold Story of Becoming (1888-1915), delves into Gandhi’s early years from India to South Africa and captures his transformation from a student into a barrister and eventually a social reformer.
The series wrapped up filming in August 2024, and its world premiere is scheduled for September 17, 2025, during the TIFF, which runs from September 4-15.
Hansal Mehta sees the selection at TIFF as a defining moment of pride, not just for his team but also for Indian cinema and its storytelling tradition. The festival is expected to act as a gateway for the series to reach audiences worldwide.
It would indeed be unfortunate if the very visionary behind the project, along with his team who poured their heart and soul into making this series a reality, were to miss out on witnessing what promises to be a well-earned global phenomenon.