TIFF 2025: AR Rahman Shares Candid Moment With Tom Felton as Hansal Mehta's 'Gandhi' Premieres

Music maestro A.R. Rahman had his Harry Potter fanboy moment at the world premiere of Hansal Mehta's Gandhi at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. In Mehta's upcoming series starring Pratik Gandhi, English actor and Harry Potter star Tom Felton has a special role in the show's international cast. Sharing a selfie with “Draco” Malfoy, Rahman was all smiles in an Instagram post that quickly went viral. “Tom Felton is a major part of the Gandhi series I am scoring, which premiered yesterday at TIFF,” the Oscar-winning composer wrote in the caption.

Felton will be seen as Josiah Oldfield, a close friend and roommate of Mohandas Gandhi during his student years in London. The series, based on historian Ramachandra Guha’s books Gandhi Before India and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World, will span three seasons. Shooting for the first instalment, which covers the years 1888 to 1915, was completed in August 2024.

Season one follows Gandhi’s early journey—from a curious teenager in colonial India, to a shy law student in London, and then a young lawyer who spends 23 transformative years in South Africa. Alongside Pratik Gandhi in the titular role, actor Bhamini Oza stars as Kasturba Gandhi. The series is produced by Applause Entertainment, known for their acclaimed shows inspired by historical events.

Rahman, whose accolades include six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammys, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and the Padma Bhushan, now adds Gandhi to his storied career in music.

Felton, meanwhile, continues to balance mainstream and indie roles. Beyond his turn as Draco Malfoy across the Harry Potter films, he has appeared in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Apparition, and From the Rough. Most recently, he returned to the wizarding world, reprising his role as Malfoy in the stage adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Interestingly, Rahman recently collaborated with acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren and British-Indian artist RIKA for a track called 'Exotic'.

Written by Diane Warren, the track is accompanied by a special visualizer video, offering fans an intimate glimpse into the studio recording session between Rahman and RIKA.

Diane Warren and RIKA with AR Rahman

Speaking about the collaboration, RIKA shared, “Working with A. R. Rahman has been nothing short of an honour. His musical genius is inspiring, and to bring Diane Warren’s beautiful words and capturing melody to life under his guidance has been a dream come true. Diane’s songwriting has shaped some of the greatest songs in the world, and to be able to lend my voice to her work alongside Rahman sir is beyond anything I could have imagined.”

A. R. Rahman added, “Producing the track 'Exotic' for a remarkable songwriter like Diane has been a delightful experience. Diane's prolific nature, coupled with her enduring childlike enthusiasm for her craft, is truly inspiring. I genuinely hope you all embrace RIKA, as her incredible energy and captivating vibe are sure to resonate with you.”