Mahatma Gandhi is undoubtedly the most popular personality in the Indian history and his name comes at the first position when speaking about India's freedom struggle. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, as was his complete name, is not just a famous figure in India but across the globe. His wax statue at the Madam Tussauds is a clear testimony to the fact.

Gandhi has been an important part of Hindi films as well. Any film on Indian independence is incomplete without the mention of Gandhiji. Today, on the eve of Gandhiji's birthday Oct 2, we list down some of the best portrayed Gandhiji on the Indian screen.

Ben Kingsley in Gandhi

The list has to start with Richard Attenborough's film Gandhi (1982) which is by far considered to be the best biographical take on Mahatma Gandhi. Ironically it took a foreign filmmaker (Richard Attenborough) and a foreign actor Ben Kingsley to come up with the best film on Indian independence and the Indian freedom fighter.

The international project was shot in India in English language and starred several then smalltime Indian actors like Amrish Puri, Om Puri and Saeed Jaffrey. Rohini Hattangadi played Kasturi Gandhi, Mahatma's wife. Ben Kingsley went on to win an Oscar for the film and his performance in Gandhi is considered to be the best till date.

Annu Kapoor in Sardar

Annu Kapoor became a famous figure on Indian television through the musical game show Antakshari (which he even hosts today). But before his television stints he was a part of several small and sensible Hindi films.

He played the role of Gandhi in Ketan Mehta's biopic on Vallabhai Patel titled Sardar. Paresh Rawal played the title role while Benjamin Gilani played Nehru.

Rajit Kapoor in Making of Mahatma

Shyam Benegal's favourite actor Rajit Kapoor played Gandhi in Benegal's bilingual biography title The Making of Mahatma in English and Gandhi Se Mahatma Tak in Hindi. The film had a different outlook on Gandhi as it showed the progression of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi from being a barrister in South Africa to becoming the Mahatma.

Rajit Kapoor came up with an inspiring act of Gandhiji.

Mohan Gokhale in Babasaheb Ambedkar

In 2000s filmmakers became more open on historical biographies and went on to show more than what was documented in the history curriculum textbooks. Jabber Patel's biography on Babasaheb Ambedkar was one of the first films to show Gandhi in grey shades. It was a shocker to audiences to see Gandhi in a negative light. Mohan Gokhale played Gandhi's character in the film and the director showed how Gandhi used his non-cooperation policy and fasting strategies to emotionally blackmail and get things done as per his demands.

South actor Mamoothy played Ambedkar in the film and won a National Award for his performance.