India’s Arif Zakaria to depict Jinnah as ‘flawed and complicated human’ in an upcoming drama based on Partition

In preparation to play Muhammed Ali Jinnah for the upcoming Partition drama Freedom at Midnight, India’s Arif Zakaria said he “realised how important it was to depict him [Jinnah] as a flawed and complicated human being rather than an untouchable hero”, Variety reported.

The show is based on a 1975 book of the same name, authored by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins. Nikkhil Advani, the director behind hit Bollywood movies Kal Ho Naa Ho and Salaam-e-Ishq, serves as the showrunner and director.

According to Variety, the political drama details India’s independence movement, combining “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”.

Zakaria (Darmiyaan and 1947: Earth) was recently recruited to play the Pakistani leader, while Ira Dubey (Scoop) has been cast as his sister Fatima Jinnah.

“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.

Advani, according to Variety, was drawn to Zakaria for the role due to 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,” the director said.

In an Instagram post, Advani stated, “Any historical retelling of the Partition of the sub-continent is incomplete without Muhammad Ali Jinnah”.

“Hardly anyone knows anything about Fatima Jinnah. Always in the shadow of her brother, Ira [Dubey] has worked so hard to bring out the layers of this complicated relationship,” he added.

The series is produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani for Emmay Entertainment in association with StudioNext and Sony LIV. It is written by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai and Ethan Taylor.

It stars Sidhant Gupta as Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, Chirag Vohra as Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, and Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the first deputy prime minister and home minister of India.

The show will stream on SonyLiv in 2024, however, the exact release date has not been disclosed.