Indian streamer SonyLIV has unveiled the actors playing Pakistani leader Mohammed Ali Jinnah and his sister Fatima in its magnum opus series “Freedom at Midnight.”
Based on the 1975 non-fiction book of the same name by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, the political drama delves into India’s independence movement, weaving together untold tales and critical moments from the era when the country’s then British colonial rulers partitioned the country into India and Pakistan in 1947.
Formerly a member of the Congress party that the leaders of India’s independence movement, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru also belonged to, Mohammed Ali Jinnah became the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the formation of Pakistan. He was then the new country’s first governor-general until his death in 1948. His close confidante was his younger sister Fatima, who, after the country’s establishment co-founded the Pakistan Women’s Association that looked after the settlement of the women migrants.
Mohammed Ali Jinnah is played by Arif Zakaria, who recently played another Indian independence movement leader, Acharya Kripalani, in Rajkumar Santoshi’s revisionist film about that period in history, “Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh” (2023), and Nehru in ZEE5 series “Hutatma” (2019).
Gandhi was famously opposed to the partition while Mohammed Ali Jinnah was a leading proponent of it. In India, Gandhi is known as the Mahatma, or great soul, and as the father of the nation. Jinnah is revered in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam or great leader.
Zakaria said: “In preparing to portray Mohammed Ali Jinnah, I realized how important it was to depict him as a flawed and complicated human being rather than an untouchable hero. I intend to add dimensions to Jinnah’s persona by delving into the depths of his psyche, bringing forth his complexity and revealing the motivations that inspired his acts. I hope to give a more genuine and comprehensive picture of Jinnah by adopting this method.”
Fatima Jinnah is portrayed by Ira Dubey (Netflix series “Scoop”). “My role in this series is unlike any other I have played in the past, bringing me a unique yet challenging opportunity as an actor. Fatima’s bond with her brother, Jinnah, and her influence on him is a lesser-known aspect. She played a significant role in his life, standing by him from the start until the end, and the series will shed light on this dynamic relationship,” Dubey said.
The series is produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani for Emmay Entertainment in association with StudioNext and Sony LIV. Nikkhil Advani (SonyLIV series “Rocket Boys”) serves as the showrunner and director. The series is written by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai and Ethan Taylor.
“When casting for the roles of Jinnah and Fatima in the series, I was immediately drawn to Arif Zakaria for his striking physical presence – gaunt, towering, with piercing eyes and a commanding voice that exuded authenticity. His baritone and clipped British accent embodied the essence of Jinnah. In a similar vein, I chose Ira Dubey for her ability to embody the grace and strength of Fatima. Both actors effortlessly brought these characters to life, capturing the essence of their personalities and historical significance. Working with Arif and Ira was a testament to their talent and dedication, solidifying my belief that they were the perfect choices for these roles,” said Advani.
As revealed by Variety, Sidhant Gupta (Prime Video series “Jubilee”) plays Nehru, who became the first Prime Minister of independent India, Chirag Vohra (SonyLIV series “Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story”) Gandhi, and Rajendra Chawla (Netflix film “Looop Lapeta”) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who became the first deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India.
“Freedom at Midnight” is part of a 2024 SonyLIV slate that Variety revealed earlier this year.
Source Agencies
