Nikkhil Advani on The Revolutionaries: ‘Young people have always stood against injustice’

Nikhil Advani, a first-time director at a young age, began his career with the 2003 hit Kal Ho Naa Ho, which starred Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta, becoming a major commercial success. Advani's latest series, The Revolutionaries, which premiered globally on September 11 on Prime Video, tells the story of young Indians who turn to armed resistance against British rule.

The series, adapted from Sanjeev Sanyal's non-fiction book of the same name, is a departure for Advani, who has typically focused on star-led films. However, he explains that he took risks by telling stories he wanted to create, leading to the critical acclaim of D-Day (2013) and his subsequent work in longer-form series like Mumbai Diaries and Freedom at Midnight.

The Revolutionaries focuses on an earlier generation that chose armed resistance, while also highlighting the peaceful dialogue these individuals first sought. Advani hopes the show will remind viewers of the injustice faced by the characters and encourage empathy for their actions. He acknowledges the power of hindsight, recognizing that non-violent resistance like Gandhi's later achieved great things.

Advani aims to explain why armed resistance seemed like the only choice at the time, ultimately hoping to encapsulate the potent frustration and anger of a 20-something-year-old Indian who saw 200 years of British colonial rule and wanted to end it.