Manoj Bajpayee plays Gandhi in Sudhir Mishra's film on 21 pivotal days
Synopsis
Manoj Bajpayee is set to play Mahatma Gandhi for the first time in his career, in an untitled Sudhir Mishra film that zeroes in on 21 days during India's independence — a period when Gandhi deliberately stepped away from the corridors of power. Backed by Anubhav Sinha, the film promises a rare, intimate portrait of the Mahatma at history's most dramatic turning point.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra is directing an untitled film centred on 21 days in Mahatma Gandhi's life during India's independence .
Manoj Bajpayee will portray Mahatma Gandhi — a historic first in his acting career.
Actor Saurabh Shukla also stars in the film.
The film is produced by Anubhav Sinha and Narendra Hirawat under A Benaras Mediaworks , presented by NH Studioz .
The title and release date have not yet been announced.
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has revealed that his upcoming yet-to-be-titled film, starring Manoj Bajpayee as Mahatma Gandhi, centres on a little-explored 21-day period in Gandhi's life during India's independence. The project blends an intimate human narrative with the sweeping scale of the nation's freedom, offering a perspective rarely captured in mainstream historical cinema.
The Story at the Centre
Speaking about the film's premise, Sudhir Mishra said, '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.' The director described the period as one in which Gandhi made a choice that diverged sharply from the celebrations unfolding in Delhi.
Mishra elaborated: 'At a time when the nation was stepping into freedom, and Delhi was becoming the centre of power, Gandhi made an unexpected choice: he chose to walk away. But by walking away, he did not retreat. He reinvented himself. 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.'
A Career First for Manoj Bajpayee
In what is described as a historic career first, Manoj Bajpayee will portray Mahatma Gandhi — bringing what Mishra calls his 'trademark intensity and nuance' to a deeply human depiction of the Mahatma. The film also features Saurabh Shukla in a significant role. Notably, this marks Mishra's own return to the big screen after a gap, underscoring the personal weight he attaches to the project.
Production and Backing
The film is produced by Anubhav Sinha — known for socially charged films such as Mulk, Article 15, and Thappad — alongside Narendra Hirawat, under the banner A Benaras Mediaworks. It is presented by NH Studioz. The combination of Mishra's directorial sensibility and Sinha's track record of issue-driven cinema signals a film aimed at both critical and commercial audiences.
Why This Film Matters
Gandhi's movements during the days surrounding 15 August 1947 — when he was in Calcutta rather than Delhi, working to quell communal violence — remain among the most consequential yet under-examined episodes of modern Indian history. A feature film exploring this period through the lens of personal transformation could bring renewed public attention to a chapter often overshadowed by the formal transfer of power. The title is yet to be announced, and a release date has not been disclosed.
Point of View
Saintly portrayals audiences are conditioned to expect for something rawer and more interior. Sudhir Mishra's framing of Gandhi's withdrawal from Delhi as reinvention rather than retreat is the more interesting argument: it positions the Mahatma not as a figure fading from relevance but as one actively redefining purpose at the moment of triumph. Whether mainstream audiences, accustomed to hagiography, will embrace that complexity is the real question this film must answer before it even opens.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sudhir Mishra's new film about?
The untitled film explores 21 days in the life of Mahatma Gandhi during India's independence, focusing on Gandhi's personal journey and his choice to step away from Delhi at the moment of the nation's freedom. Director Sudhir Mishra describes it as an intimate, lesser-known chapter of independence history.
Who plays Mahatma Gandhi in the film?
Manoj Bajpayee plays Mahatma Gandhi — marking the first time in his career that he has taken on the role. Saurabh Shukla also stars in the film.
Who is producing the Sudhir Mishra Gandhi film?
The film is produced by Anubhav Sinha and Narendra Hirawat under A Benaras Mediaworks and is presented by NH Studioz. Anubhav Sinha is known for socially driven films such as Mulk, Article 15, and Thappad.
When will the film release?
A release date has not been announced. The film is also yet to receive an official title, as of the latest information available.
What period of Gandhi's life does the film cover?
The film covers a 21-day period during India's independence in 1947, examining what Gandhi chose to do — and why — as Delhi became the new centre of power. According to director Sudhir Mishra, it explores the personal transformation behind a famous historical choice.
