Fri Dec 20 04:53:35 UTC 2024: ## Veteran Actor Arif Zakaria’s Powerful Portrayal of Jinnah in “Freedom at Midnight”
**Mumbai, India (December 20, 2024)** – Arif Zakaria, a seasoned actor known for his diverse roles, delivers a captivating performance as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Nikhil Advani’s “Freedom at Midnight,” currently streaming on SonyLiv. Zakaria, who hails from a prominent Mumbai political family and previously portrayed Jawaharlal Nehru, brought a nuanced understanding of Jinnah to the role, drawing on his childhood experiences in South Mumbai and his father’s anecdotes about Jinnah’s presence in the area.
Zakaria’s portrayal delves into the complexities of Jinnah’s personality, portraying him as an introvert grappling with internal contradictions – a self-proclaimed sole representative of Muslims who was not a devout Muslim himself. The actor highlights Jinnah’s dichotomy, contrasting his intellectual discussions with Gandhi’s grassroots approach. Achieving this nuanced portrayal required extensive preparation, including workshops and table reads facilitated by a year-long production delay. Zakaria meticulously researched the character, even noting his physical traits within the script. He meticulously captured Jinnah’s domineering presence, piercing gaze, and elegant gait, while also portraying his struggles with tuberculosis and chain-smoking—a challenge for the non-smoker.
Zakaria’s commitment to authenticity extends to his previous roles, including a groundbreaking gender-fluid performance in Kalpana Lajmi’s “Darmiyaan” and a Bharatanatyam dancer in “Dance Like A Man.” He notes that while many actors claim to seek challenging roles, few embrace them when presented with the opportunity. He credits his ability to humanize even the strongest characters to his sensitivity and the strength of the writing.
Currently, Zakaria is preparing for a Bollywood musical comedy, “Bollywood Masala,” to be staged in Paris. This marks his second collaboration with theatre director Toby Gough. Zakaria’s performance in “Freedom at Midnight” is being hailed as one of the most memorable performances of 2024.
First Piper 