Deepak Antani (born on 20 September 1964) is an Indian actor, director and screenwriter known for his work in Gujarati and Hindi cinema, television and theatre. He is widely recognized for portraying Mahatma Gandhi across multiple platforms including films, plays, documentaries and museum. His performance as Gandhi in Gandhi Godse – Ek Yudh (2023), directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, received national attention. He has also played the role in the international film Gandhiji My Mentor (2016) and stage play M.K. Gandhi Hazir Ho (2019), which has been performed across India. Antani holds records in both the Limca Book of Records (2020–22) and India Book of Records (2019) for the maximum number of performances as Mahatma Gandhi on stage and screen.
Early life and education
Deepak Antani was born in Bhuj, in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. He completed a Diploma in Electrical engineering with distinction. Later, he pursued his passion for performing arts and earned a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dramatics from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Before becoming a full-time actor, he worked as an electrical technician at Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited. (IPCL) and as a production assistant at Doordarshan, India's national broadcaster.
Career
Deepak Antani began his career as a production assistant at Doordarshan, Ahmedabad, and later served as the Programming Head at ETV (now Colors Gujarati). He also worked as a consultant for various regional Gujarati TV channels, including GSTV and Soham TV.
He made his directorial debut in Gujarati cinema with Bhav Bhav Na Bharthar in 2000, which won regional film awards. Over the years, he has acted in more than 25 Gujarati and Hindi films and over 30 television serials. He has also written, directed, and performed in many stage plays, short films, and documentaries focusing on Indian history and social themes.
Antani is best known for his long-standing portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi. He played Gandhi in Gandhiji My Mentor (2016), which was screened at several international film festivals and later released on ZEE5 and YouTube. In 2023, he portrayed Gandhi in Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh (2023), directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, and Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), directed by Shyam Benegal. He also played the same role in Kesari Chapter 2 (2025), which was released in 2025 and produced by Dharma Productions.
On stage, Antani has performed as Gandhi in more than 190 shows. His notable theatrical works include Yugpurush (2016), which depicted Gandhi's spiritual journey, and M. K. Gandhi Hazir Ho (since 2019), a solo play that he also wrote and directed. Yugpurush became part of a record-breaking theatrical run with over 1000 performances in India and abroad.
His image and voice as Gandhi have been featured in several museum exhibits and digital projects. These include Walk with Gandhiji at Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum in New Delhi, Talk with Bapu at Mahatma Gandhi Museum, Rajkot, and an exhibit at the Gandhi Tower in Patna. He has also appeared in government-supported documentaries such as Jang-e-Azadi, Vishwa Manav Mahatma Gandhi and Gandhiji Amdavad Ma.
Antani recently directed the Gujarati feature film Goti Lo (2025), continuing his contribution to socially relevant narratives in regional Indian cinema.
Filmography Year Title Role Actor Writer Director Language Notes Refs 2000 Bhav Bhav Na Bharthar Gujarati Streaming on Hotstar 2016 Kanku Purayu Maa Amba Na Chok Ma Gujarati Revised Title is Dil Ma Vasto Desh, Streaming on Shemaroo Gujarati Gandhiji My Mentor Gandhiji Hindi 2017 Pritam Apni Paheli Prit Gujarati 2019 Daddy I Love You Gujarati Pagal Kar Diya Toone Dhanraj Sheth Hindi 2021 Love You Pappu Gandhiji Hindi 2022 Thank You Boss Gujarati Streaming on Shemaroo Gujarati Maare Shu News Debater Gujarati 2023 Lakiro Judge Gujarati Gandhi Godse – Ek Yudh Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Hindi Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi Mujib: The Making of a Nation Mahatma Gandhi Hindi Indo-Bangla Film Directed by Shyam Benegal 2025 Kesari Chapter 2 Mahatma Gandhi Hindi Auntypreneur Himanshu Bhai Gujarati Goti Lo Gujarati Also Executive producer and lyricist
Web series Year Title Role Language Notes Refs 2019 The Family Man Gujarati Driver Hindi Season 1, Episode 7 Paradise, Streaming on Amazon Prime Video 2022 Kalyanmurti Shrimadji Ni Jivangatha Mahatma Gandhi Gujarati With co-actress Rohini Hattangadi, Streaming on 1 OTT YouTube Channel
Television Year Title Role Channel Language Notes Refs 2019 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Gandhiji Sony SAB Hindi Episode 2832 2020 Barrister Babu Gandhiji Colors TV Hindi Episode 136 and 137 2024 Sardar: The Game Changer Mahatma Gandhi DD National Hindi As a young and old Gandhiji in Episodes 1 to 30
Theater Play Year Title Role Actor Writer Director Language Notes Refs 2004 Sardar Patel Gandhiji Gujarati Supported by Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Academy 2015 Yugpurush Gandhiji Gujarati and Hindi Produced by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur 2019 M.K. Gandhi Hazir Ho M.K. Gandhi Hindi Performed for Global Art Festival and Sponsored by Gujarat Tourism
Social and Cultural Contributions
In January 2019, Deepak Antani participated in a 150-kilometre Gandhi Padyatra across Gujarat, led by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Dileepbhai Sanghani and Parshottam Rupala. The padyatra aimed to promote basic education and Gandhian values. Antani, appearing as Mahatma Gandhi, delivered public speeches during the journey to engage communities on themes of truth, non-violence, and self-reliance.
Awards and recognition
Deepak Antani was featured in the Limca Book of Records (2020–2022) and the India Book of Records (2019) for the most performances as Mahatma Gandhi. He won Best Actor for Gandhi Godse – Ek Yudh at the Maharaja Film Festival and received a special award at the Transmedia Gujarati Awards (2024) for his portrayal of Gandhi.
See also List of artistic depictions of Mahatma Gandhi Gujarati theatre List of Gujarati films List of Indian film directors
References
External links