Saif Ali Khan, Pratik Gandhi to Star in Hum Hindustani on India’s First Election

Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Pratik Gandhi have teamed up for Netflix’s upcoming series Hum Hindustani, inspired by true events surrounding India’s first-ever general election.

Set in newly independent India in 1950, the Rahul Dholakia directorial follows a group of officials tasked with conducting the country’s first democratic exercise amid chaos, resistance and immense logistical challenges.

Netflix unveiled the first-look teaser of Hum Hindustani on Tuesday, offering a glimpse into the high-stakes backdrop of the historic moment. The teaser opens with Saif Ali Khan’s character delivering a rousing speech, drawing a contrast with the United States at the time, where people of colour were denied voting rights. He declares that India is on the verge of an unprecedented experiment — universal adult suffrage.

The teaser also introduces Pratik Gandhi as a police officer entrusted with maintaining law and order as a rebellion aimed at derailing the democratic process unfolds. His character is shown confronting forces determined to prevent the election from taking place.

Inspired by real events, Hum Hindustani chronicles how India successfully conducted its first democratic election against formidable odds, capturing the belief, courage and collective effort that shaped the nation’s political foundation.

Sharing their thoughts, the makers said, “At the heart of Hum Hindustani lies one of the most defining promises of a newly independent India — the right to vote. Telling the story of the country’s first democratic election through the eyes of those on the ground has been both a responsibility and a privilege. It is a story of belief, courage and collective effort that shaped the nation we know today.”

Written and directed by Rahul Dholakia, the series is produced by Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikkhil Advani under the Emmay Entertainment banner. The cast also includes Deepak Dobriyal, Mimi Chakraborty, Sarika and Shraddha Dangar.

Hum Hindustani will stream on Netflix. The release date is yet to be announced.