Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee is set to take on one of the most challenging roles of his career. The acclaimed actor will reportedly portray Mahatma Gandhi in filmmaker Sudhir Mishra’s upcoming film Gandhi and My Mother. The project has already attracted attention because it brings together one of India’s most respected performers and a filmmaker known for exploring complex political and human stories. According to available industry information, Gandhi and My Mother is being developed as a biographical drama, with Sudhir Mishra attached as director and writer. Manoj Bajpayee is listed in the project as playing Gandhi.
Manoj Bajpayee’s First Gandhi Role
Manoj Bajpayee has played a wide range of intense and memorable characters throughout his career, but portraying Mahatma Gandhi represents a completely different challenge. Gandhi has previously been portrayed by several celebrated actors, including Ben Kingsley and Dilip Prabhavalkar. Bajpayee’s interpretation is therefore expected to focus not only on Gandhi’s public image but also on the emotional and personal dimensions of the historical figure. His ability to bring subtlety, restraint and emotional depth to complicated characters could make this portrayal particularly intriguing.
What Is ‘Gandhi and My Mother’ About?
The film is reportedly set around the final six months of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, one of the most turbulent periods in modern Indian history. The story is expected to follow Gandhi’s journey through violence-hit regions of Bengal before his eventual move to Delhi in September 1947. This period was marked by the trauma of Partition, communal violence and Gandhi’s efforts to promote peace. He continued travelling through troubled areas and attempting to calm tensions even after India gained independence. The film is also expected to include more personal elements, suggesting that audiences may see a side of Gandhi beyond the familiar historical icon.
Sudhir Mishra Returns With a Serious Historical Subject
The project is being directed by Sudhir Mishra, a filmmaker known for socially and politically driven storytelling. Mishra is also credited as the writer and producer of the project, with Anubhav Sinha listed among the producers. The combination of Mishra’s filmmaking approach and Bajpayee’s acting style makes the project particularly interesting for audiences looking for a serious historical drama rather than a conventional biopic.
Why the Film Could Be Special
Instead of covering Gandhi’s entire life, Gandhi and My Mother appears to concentrate on a short but extremely significant chapter—the final months before his assassination in January 1948. That focused approach could allow the filmmakers to explore Gandhi’s thoughts, struggles, relationships and attempts to maintain peace during one of the darkest periods surrounding India’s Independence. For Manoj Bajpayee, the role could become another major milestone in a career filled with unconventional performances.

Release and Production Updates
Industry reports indicated that Sudhir Mishra was preparing the film for a 2026 shoot, with the project envisioned as an international co-production. A confirmed theatrical release date has not been established in the sources currently available. As production progresses, audiences will likely be watching closely for the first look of Manoj Bajpayee as Gandhi, along with details about the supporting cast, shooting schedule and release plans.
Gandhi and My Mother has the ingredients of an ambitious historical drama: a powerful subject, an experienced filmmaker and a highly regarded actor stepping into the shoes of one of India’s most influential historical figures. Manoj Bajpayee as Mahatma Gandhi is undoubtedly the film’s biggest talking point. If Sudhir Mishra succeeds in presenting Gandhi as both a historical icon and a deeply human individual, the film could offer audiences a fresh perspective on the final chapter of his extraordinary life.

