Nikkhil Advani is currently awaiting the release of his web series Freedom at Midnight. The show, which will premiere on SonyLIV, is set against the backdrop of India's struggle for Independence. Starring Sidhant Gupta as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Freedom at Midnight will stream in November 2024. In an official statement, Nikkhil has revealed the reason why Sidhant was cast as India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for his series.

Why was Sidhant Gupta cast as Pandit Nehru?

Nikkhil Advani admitted that casting for Freedom at Midnight wasn't easy. The director mentioned it is critical to find actors who can truly embody the iconic leaders. He spoke about the show's casting director Kavish identifying the right talent. Advani additionally stated that Jagdish Dada and his team did good prosthetics, which made the transformations 'seamless'.

"Nehru’s character was the last to be cast for the show. We needed someone who could truly embody Pandit Nehru, and while Sidhant's talent was undeniable, it was his striking resemblance, especially his nose, to Nehru Ji that sealed the deal," revealed Nikkhil.

For those who are unaware, Nikkhil Advani serves as the showrunner and director of Freedom at Midnight. The web series is produced by Emmay Entertainment in association with StudioNext. The show is based on Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins' book of the same name. 

Freedom at Midnight star cast

Meanwhile, Advani's series Freedom at Midnight boasts of an ensemble star cast, which includes Chirag Vohra as Mahatma Gandhi, Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Arif Zakaria as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Ira Dubey as Fatima Jinnah and Malishka Mendonsa as Sarojini Naidu. On the other hand, Rajesh Kumar plays the role of Liaquat Ali Khan while KC Shankar essays the character of V.P. Menon.

Freedom at Midnight will soon stream on SonyLIV. You can also watch the series with your OTTplay Premium subscription.

Read Also: Khosla Ka Ghosla re-release: Anupam Kher hails it as a 'fantastic cult film'