Hum Hindustani: Saif Ali Khan, Pratik Gandhi star in epic journey of India's first general election

Hum Hindustani stars Saif Ali Khan and Pratik Gandhi in the lead roles. The first look video also shows Bengali actress Mimi Chakraborty in a key role. The film will be released on Netflix.

Saif Ali Khan, Pratik Gandhi in Hum Hindustani

Netflix India shared their 2026 slate, and it has a series of movies and shows lined up. One of them is the period drama film Hum Hindustani. Saif Ali Khan and Pratik Gandhi star in Netflix's new period film Hum Hindustani, directed by Rahul Dholakia. The movie highlights India's first elections through a narrative of chaos and resistance.

Hum Hindustani is based on real events?

Hum Hindustani is set in 1950s India, which tells the story of India’s first general elections and the massive effort to implement universal adult suffrage. It was a huge turning point in the country's transition from a centuries-old monarchy to a democracy.

This story centres on the Election Commission's struggle to ensure voting rights for every citizen, even as they face fierce resistance from local leaders in former princely states and places like Saurashtra. These groups saw democracy as a threat to their traditional power and status.

The first look video highlights that the success of this election was crucial to keeping the newly independent nation from collapsing, calling the vote a "weapon" that could change leadership without violence.

Who are the actors in Hum Hindustani?

Saif Ali Khan stars as Sudeep Sengupta, an official leading the election charge. Pratik Gandhi plays a police officer tasked with stopping the rebellions, and Bengali actress Mimi Chakraborty appears as a key figure in the film.

The film is directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Emmay Entertainment. It's a Netflix original inspired by the real logistical and social challenges of the 1951-52 elections.

The team of Hum Hindustani shared that 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. We are immensely proud to bring Rahul Dholakia’s vision to Netflix and to present this landmark chapter of Indian history with the scale and ambition it deserves, for audiences in India and far beyond," the team shared.

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Sharing his enthusiasm at the Next on Netflix event, Saif Ali Khan labelled his collaboration with the platform a homecoming, noting that their association goes back over a decade. He praised Netflix's dedication to quality storytelling and further says that it helps creators bring meaningful stories like Hum Hindustani, a series that traces India’s democratic evolution, to life.

Hum Hindustani FAQs

Q: Who stars in Netflix's Hum Hindustani?

A: Netflix's upcoming period drama film, Hum Hindustani, stars Saif Ali Khan and Pratik Gandhi in the lead roles.

Q: Is Hum Hindustani based on real events?

A: Yes. Hum Hindustani is based on real events, set in 1950s India, which tells the story of India’s first general elections.

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