17 September,2026 11:02 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Phoolan cast at TIFF (Pic/Special Arrangements)
Richie Mehta's Phoolan received a standing ovation at its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. Starring Sneha Kumari in the titular role, the action drama explores a turbulent 48-hour period in the life of Phoolan Devi, drawing from her autobiography and focusing on the woman behind the legend.
Phoolan, directed and written by acclaimed filmmaker Richie Mehta, received a standing ovation from a packed audience of over 2,000 at its World Premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Screened as part of the festival's coveted Special Presentation section, the film left audiences deeply moved, drawing unanimous praise from critics and cinephiles alike at the iconic Princess of Wales Theatre, one of Toronto's most celebrated cultural landmarks.
Phoolan is an action drama that chronicles an extraordinary and tumultuous moment in the life of Phoolan Devi during a 48-hour siege. Based on Phoolan Devi's autobiography, "I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India's Bandit Queen," published by Editions Robert Laffont, the film is a visceral account of a young woman who defied every convention imposed upon her and seized her own destiny in a world determined to deny her one.
Speaking about the world premiere, writer-director and producer Richie Mehta said, "Phoolan Devi's story is one that demands to be told with honesty, and without compromise. I was drawn to a very specific chapter of Phoolan's life, the formative years before the world knew her name, contrasted with the period where she was a misunderstood legend. It felt essential to me to strip away the mythology and reveal the human underneath. The themes at the heart of her story, resilience in the face of adversity, the search for dignity, and the courage to claim one's own voice are timeless."
The World Premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre was attended by the film's cast and creative team. Leading the arrivals was Sneha Kumari, who delivers a breakthrough performance in the titular role of Phoolan Devi, alongside cast members Anurag Thakur, Aakash Dahiya, and Vikram Pratap Singh.
Produced by Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora, Kanwal Kohli, and Richie Mehta, Phoolan is a Namah Pictures production. Following its World Premiere at TIFF, the Hindi action drama will premiere on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide soon.
