Malishka Mendonsa, Rajesh Kumar join Nikkhil Advani’s Freedom at Midnight

RJ Malishka Mendonsa and actor Rajesh Kumar have joined Nikkhil Advani’s Freedom at Midnight, the makers announced on Tuesday. Malishka plays freedom fighter Sarojini Naidu while Rajesh essays the role of Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. Along with them, K.C. Shankar will play constitutional advisor V.P. Menon in the historical series.

Nikkhil shared their first looks from the series and wrote in the caption, “#FreedomAtMidnight shall illuminate with depth and authenticity the stories of prominent personalities, offering viewers a nuanced understanding of their struggles, triumphs, and sacrifices.”

Speaking about her role as Sarojini Naidu, Malishka shared in the press note, “Playing her is a challenge and honour, as my only reference point is what I have read about her and the discussions I have had about her with our director. I think she was a true representation of the Modern women of India who was not boxed by any limitations. She was not only a celebrated poetess and a freedom fighter but also a trailblazer for women in politics.”

She added, “It’s fascinating to take a deeper look into the complexities of her character and understand her journey during such a transformative period in our nation’s history. Being a part of this series is like stepping back in time and experiencing history in its rawest form.”

Rajesh Kumar shared his experience of playing Liaquat Ali Khan in the series and said in a statement, "Immersion in Liaquat Ali Khan's character has been a pivotal moment in my career. Through exhaustive research and detailed study of his life, mannerisms, and political expertise, I aim to authentically portray the nuanced persona of Khan on screen. I eagerly anticipate the feedback from my fans and peers, as this marks an important milestone in my acting journey within this political thriller narrative.”

Earlier, the first look from the series was shared by the makers introducing actors Chirag Vohra as MK Gandhi, Sidhant Gupta as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajendra Chawla as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Adapted from the book by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins, Freedom at Midnight is Produced by Emmay Entertainment (Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani) in association with StudioNext and Sony LIV. Nikkhil Advani serves as the showrunner and director of the series and it is written by Abhinandan Gupta, Adwitiya Kareng Das, Gundeep Kaur, Divya Nidhi Sharma, Revanta Sarabhai, and Ethan Taylor.