Sidhant Gupta, Arif Zakaria and more: Meet the stellar cast of Freedom at Midnight

SonyLIV’s latest web series, Freedom at Midnight, chronicles India’s struggle for independence without being jingoistic, while also highlighting the horrors of Partition that followed immediately after. Directed by Nikkhil Advani, the show delves into the pivotal dialogues between Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and the last Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten, as they discuss the terms of transferring power from the British to the Indians.
The seven-episode series is adapted from the book of the same name by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. Before you dive into the engaging show, let’s take a look at the key characters and the talented actors who have brought them to life with their compelling performances.
Actor Sidhant Gupta, who gained prominence with his performance in the Prime Video series Jubilee as Jay Khanna, embodies the role of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. He looks the part and adds depth to this key character with his acting prowess.
Veteran actor Arif Zakaria, 58, is undoubtedly the standout performer in Freedom at Midnight. Coming from a family of politicians, Zakaria plays the role of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the All-India Muslim League, whose primary goal was the creation of an independent nation for Muslims — Pakistan. He has previously starred in historical dramas, including Deepa Mehta’s Earth/1947 and as Major Dhillon in Shyam Benegal’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. On the big screen, he was last seen in Mission Raniganj.
Actor Chirag Vohra, who has been playing supporting roles in Hindi films since 2001, starting with Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, essays the role of Mahatma Gandhi, the ‘Father of the Nation’, in Freedom at Midnight. The actor looks unrecognizable in the series, fully immersing himself in the character.
A popular face on Indian television and in films, Rajendra Chawla plays the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of India. You would have seen him in Sushant Singh Rajput’s M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story and Shahid Kapoor’s Batti Gul Meter Chalu.
Ira Dubey plays the role of Fatima Jinnah, the younger sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in the series.
The series is backed by several other talented actors and is definitely worth a watch.