Netflix India is teaming up with Saif Ali Khan for a historic cinematic venture centered on India’s first-ever General Election. The yet-to-be-titled project is directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Nikkhil Advani under Emmay Entertainment. The filming is set to begin in April-May 2025.
According to reports, joining Saif Ali Khan in the ensemble cast are Pratik Gandhi and Deepak Dobriyal, promising a powerhouse performance in this Netflix Original. The film delves into the monumental 1951-52 elections, a defining moment in India’s journey as a democratic nation. Conducted from 25 October, 1951, to 21 February, 1952, the election faced immense challenges—logistical, administrative, and social.
Over 1,874 candidates from 53 parties contested for 489 seats, and the Election Commission undertook a herculean effort to ensure voter awareness and participation. This first-of-its-kind election achieved a 45.7% voter turnout, leading to the Indian National Congress’s sweeping victory with 364 seats and Jawaharlal Nehru’s appointment as the first democratically elected Prime Minister.
Saif Ali Khan will portray the role of Sukumar Sen, India’s first Chief Election Commissioner, who spearheaded the election with meticulous planning and fairness. An Indian Civil Services officer and skilled mathematician, Sen’s leadership was pivotal in navigating the complexities of an untested electoral process.
Rahul Dholakia, known for his work on Raees, expressed his dedication to historical accuracy, having extensively researched the subject. “This is one of the most outstanding success stories as far as elections are concerned,” Dholakia shared.
This marks Saif’s third collaboration with Netflix India after the critically acclaimed Sacred Games and the upcoming Jewel Thief: The Red Sun Chapter. Saif’s role as Sen highlights his penchant for portraying layered characters in socially significant narratives.
The project is particularly exciting as it reunites Saif with Rahul Dholakia after their initial attempt to collaborate on Agni faced scheduling hurdles. The director will focus fully on the election film after the 6 December release of Agni on Amazon Prime Video.
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