Arif Zakaria on playing Jinnah in Freedom at Midnight: Didn’t attach any political flavour to it

Arif Zakaria’s performance as Jinnah in Freedom at Midnight seems to have been well received, with many appreciating the nuanced approach to the character.

Arif Zakaria, who plays Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s first governor-general, in the recently released web show Freedom at Midnight, has faced little in the way of polarising feedback about his portrayal of the controversial figure. While historical characters like Jinnah often spark intense debate, Arif Zakaria’s performance seems to have been well received, with many appreciating the nuanced approach to the character.

“Personally, I haven’t received any polarising feedback,” the actor shares, adding, “The show has been well appreciated. Of course, people may have differing opinions, but I haven’t seen any extreme reactions so far. It’s natural for audiences to like or dislike parts of a story, but that’s true for any work—not just historical adaptations.”

Ask him if he was apprehensive about taking up a character that is unpopular in this part of the world and the actor promptly says “not really”. He explains, “It’s a challenging role—and as actors, we always talk about embracing challenges. So when such a challenge comes along, why shy away? I didn’t attach any political flavor to it. I treated him like an antagonist or anti-hero and worked within the confines of the script. The burden of history on this character makes people view it differently. But I consciously didn’t carry that weight. I stuck to what the script demanded and played the character accordingly.”

The 58-year-old further says, “I stripped down the reputation and approached the character as a lawyer from Mumbai—a man who followed a certain ideology, believed in what he thought was right, and had a strong sense of self-belief. For him, his right was right. He was educated, had a sister, and espoused a theory he firmly believed in until the end.”

Zakaria says he doesn’t feel daunted by the characters historical weight. “If tomorrow I get a chance to play someone like Bhimrao Ambedkar or any other historical figure, I would take it as another opportunity to perform to the best of my abilities,” says the actor, who has previously played Pakistan General Riaz Ahmed in Shoorveer (2022) and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962: The War in the Hills (2021).

Ask him if he was apprehensive about taking up a character that is unpopular in this part of the world and the actor promptly says “not really”. He explains, “It’s a challenging role—and as actors, we always talk about embracing challenges. So when such a challenge comes along, why shy away? I didn’t attach any political flavor to it. I treated him like an antagonist or anti-hero and worked within the confines of the script. The burden of history on this character makes people view it differently. But I consciously didn’t carry that weight. I stuck to what the script demanded and played the character accordingly.”

The 58-year-old further says, “I stripped down the reputation and approached the character as a lawyer from Mumbai—a man who followed a certain ideology, believed in what he thought was right, and had a strong sense of self-belief. For him, his right was right. He was educated, had a sister, and espoused a theory he firmly believed in until the end.”

Zakaria says he doesn’t feel daunted by the characters historical weight. “If tomorrow I get a chance to play someone like Bhimrao Ambedkar or any other historical figure, I would take it as another opportunity to perform to the best of my abilities,” says the actor, who has previously played Pakistan General Riaz Ahmed in Shoorveer (2022) and former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962: The War in the Hills (2021).

Zakaria’s journey into the project began two years ago when he received a call from filmmaker Nikkhil Advani while he was abroad. “I had heard of the book Freedom at Midnight. It’s a big novel, very popular, and well-known,” he recalls. “I landed back in Mumbai and went to meet him (Advani). In the first meeting, he simply told me, ‘I want you to play this part. You look the part, and I think it would be good for the project’,” he further says, adding, “He had me read just one scene, which happens to be in Episode 2—the consultation scene with Nehru’s character. Getting on board was as simple as that.”

On if he drew inspiration from other actors who’ve played Jinnah on screen, Zakaria says he’s not seen any major performances. Sharing how he prepped to bring Jinnah to life on screen, he reveals, “There were extensive workshops and readings, and I even learnt how to smoke. That went on for about 9 to 10 months before we actually began shooting,” adding, “My approach was largely based on the material I had at hand—the script, historical research, and, of course, Jinnah’s tonality and presence, which can now be easily studied on YouTube. I worked on his voice and mannerisms while staying present and spontaneous during the shoot.”

But given the current political scenario in the country was he anxious about controversies erupting surrounding the show or the character? “Not at all. We live in very vague times—anything can become controversial. I could do a scene with a man and a woman, and addressing the woman in a certain way might spark controversy. You have to stick to what you believe is true,” Zakaria says, adding, “In this case, the writing was very strong, and the show is based on an award-winning book. Freedom at Midnight is a celebrated novel written by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, first published in the late 1970s. The book has been popular for decades, so we adapted it faithfully. As an actor, you have to remain pure to the material. If you get caught up in these concerns, you can’t do justice to the work.”

He adds, “As an artist, you can’t please everybody. At the end of the day, everyone has their own opinions. People who try to please everyone might end up sacrificing something. You have to be true to the material. The best way to please anyone, whether personally, professionally, or artistically, is to stick to what’s true and honest. Don’t play to the gallery, or just try to appeal to others’ expectations. Just make something truthful and correct. If something is untrue, it will be discovered eventually. People are smart, especially with social media these days. If you do the right thing, the rest will follow.”

Zakaria further says that history is always open to interpretation, and no matter how much research one does, there will always be voices and perspectives on it. “I think it’s great that everyone has access to these debates now…But as an audience, we want you to feel as if you’re sitting across the boardroom, watching these historical figures make their decisions. Whether they were right or wrong is subjective—it’s your perspective. We’re not trying to alter that. You may come in with a certain set notion, and that’s fine, but we’ll show you the circumstances, pressures, and reasons behind their actions,” he says.

During the conversation, Zakaria also weighed in on the rise of history-based webs shows on OTT platforms. He believes historical stories are finding greater success on OTT because they allow for deeper exploration of characters and themes. “The long-format nature of OTT platforms allows stories to unfold over time. You can play with subjects, formats, and genres without being bogged down by commercial trappings. Characters are better defined, and there’s more room for exploration.”

He credits this format for making historical narratives more accessible and engaging. “India has so many untold stories—heroes, survivors, revolutionaries—from every corner of the country. OTT platforms offer the space to explore these stories in depth, which theatrical releases often cannot accommodate,” he wraps up.

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Bandish Bandits 2 trailer: Love, conflict and musical legacy take center stage as Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhry return

The Bandish Bandits 2 trailer opens with a revelation that Naseeruddin Shah’s character has passed away. It also introduces Divya Dutta into the world.

Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry are all set to be back with another musical chapter with the second season of Bandish Bandits. The trailer of the show has finally dropped, and it teases a conflict between love and ambitions. It also shows one fighting to protect the musical legacy. Also read: Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry-starrer Bandish Bandits returns for season two, will premiere in December

About the trailer
The trailer, which dropped on Monday, sets the tone for a poignant and musical journey. It opens with the revelation that Naseeruddin Shah’s character has passed away. His demise sets off a chain of events, as his family embarks on a quest to preserve his musical legacy, which appears to have been tarnished.

The romantic drama show features actors Ritwik Bhowmik and Shreya Chaudhry as Radhe and Tamanna, two musicians who come from different worlds of music. The trailer shows both of them come face to face in a musical battle where they have to navigate their passion while confronting their feelings.

The trailer also introduces Divya Dutta as a teacher. Sheeba Chaddha, Atul Kulkarni, Rajesh Tailang, and Kunaal Roy Kapur are also reprising their characters in the show.

The trailer also comes with hints that the season will also explore bigger issues such as the world of reality shows, and gender roles in the musical industry. Staying true to the premise, music seems to be the focus for the second part as well.

Team excited about chapter two
Actor Ritwik Bhowmik is happy to be back in the musical world of the show. “For me, stepping into the shoes of Radhe is like coming home after a long day. It is a character I am grateful to have played for several reasons, most importantly, how much it has taught me as an actor and a person,” Ritwik said in a statement, adding, “With the second season we see Radhe really grow into his own and embrace the responsibility of keeping his family’s traditions and legacy alive in an increasingly fast-paced and modern world while navigating his relationship with Tamanna”.

For Shreya Chaudhry, stepping back into Tamanna’s world was like reconnecting with an old friend. “There’s something deeply special about playing a character who is chasing her dreams while navigating love and the pressures of legacy—it mirrors the journey so many of us go through. It has been an absolute honour to watch and learn from the series’ incredible cast and I hope this season inspires people to believe in the beauty of their passion, just as it has reminded me of my own,” she said.

Talking about the show, creator and director Anand Tiwari shared, “This season we have pushed the boundaries and strived to tell a story that is rooted, relatable and immensely engaging. I’m grateful to have the most collaborative team of actors and technicians working on this series, and I am looking forward to the premiere of this much-awaited season”.

More about the show
The show has been created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari. The first season of Bandish Bandits was released in August 2020. The sophomore chapter was directed by Anand and has co-written the series alongside Atmika Didwania and Karan Singh Tyagi.

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Shalini Passi reveals she donated entire Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fee to Bihar village

Shalini Passi, art collector and viral sensation from Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives, said she donated her fee through UNICEF to a charity she works with.

Shalini Passi might be making waves after her screen debut in Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives for her viral moments and fascinating lifestyle. But from her confession in an interview with Aaj Tak, one can sense that she also has a benevolent heart. (Also Read – Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives star Shalini Passi on being a viral sensation: ‘If Orry is a liver, I am a learner’)

What Shalini said
“This is a question that I’ve been asking everybody: Why am a I born here? What is my purpose? As a human being, you do your best. My entire acting fee actually goes to a village through UNICEF in Bihar. Everything that I do, all my earnings go to charity. I work diligently with them,” Shalini said.

“Beyond that also, I’ve been trying to create a show about women’s voices, and another one representing Indian culture. However, I have often received feedback that there’s not enough audience to watch these shows. I am ready to show India its culture, the power of women, but the audiences have to be ready. It’s just not about my time, it’s about production and the cost as well,” she added.

About Shalini Passi
Shalini is an art collector and aficionado based in South Delhi. Married to Sanjay Passi, Chairman of the Pasco Group, they have a son named Robin. She’s also a fitness enthusiast and philanthropist. She started The Shalini Passi Art Foundation and MASH India, which promote emerging artists in India. She’s also been a BFF of Gauri Khan, interior designer, film producer, and Shah Rukh Khan’s wife, from the latter’s Delhi days before marriage.

Shalini made her screen debut as one of the Delhi wives in season 3 of Netflix India reality show The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, alongside Kalyani Saha and Riddhima Kapoor. The Bollywood wives – Neelam, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavana Pandey, and Seema Sajdeh – also returned to season 3, and were pitted against the Delhi wives in the show. Produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, season 3 of the show premiered last month. Shalini emerged as arguably the favourite of the season subsequently.

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