Some friendships begin in the most unexpected places. For acclaimed Indian actor Pratik Gandhi, that moment came on the red carpet of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where his latest project ‘Gandhi’ had its grand premiere. Standing beside him was none other than Hollywood’s Tom Felton, best known to millions as Draco Malfoy from the ‘Harry Potter’ films.
The two actors looked cheerful as they posed together along with filmmaker Hansal Mehta, actress Bhamini Oza, and veteran Kabir Bedi. Felton later shared the pictures on Instagram, calling Gandhi his “brother in arms.”
In his caption, he wrote: “To my brother in arms @pratikgandhiofficial – the cast & crew that made this happen – what an honour it was to premiere ‘Gandhi’ at TIFF to a standing ovation this weekend.”
The gesture clearly touched Gandhi, who replied warmly in the comments. “Cheers to my first friend in England, the innocent, emotional and funny @t22felton. Can’t wait to have you in India,” he wrote.
For Gandhi, who has won praise for his powerful performances in ‘Scam 1992’ and other works, this international bond feels like the beginning of something bigger.
Also Read: AR Rahman shares selfie with Tom Felton, confirms ‘Harry Potter’ star’s role in ‘Gandhi’
Adding more star power to the moment, music maestro A.R. Rahman also shared his excitement about the project. The Oscar-winning composer posted a selfie with Felton, playfully writing “With Draco” over the picture. In his caption, Rahman revealed that Felton is “a major part” of the ‘Gandhi’ series for which he is composing the score.
The series itself promises to be one of the most ambitious Indian stories to reach global audiences. Titled ‘Gandhi’, it is based on the books ‘Gandhi Before India’ and ‘Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World’ by noted historian Ramachandra Guha.
The show will unfold across three seasons, with the first covering the years between 1888 and 1915.
This opening season traces Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s journey from a curious teenager in colonial India to a shy law student in London, and finally into a young lawyer who spent 23 transformative years in South Africa. These were the years that shaped him into the leader who would later inspire millions in India and across the world.
Produced by Applause Entertainment and helmed by Hansal Mehta, the project has been in the making for years. The first season wrapped filming in August 2024 and has already created waves with its world premiere at TIFF.