Phoolan, the much-talked-about biographical drama on India’s Bandit Queen, made its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, 2026, and the response was nothing short of electric. Directed by Richie Mehta, the film received a standing ovation from a packed audience of over 2,000 people at the iconic Princess of Wales Theatre. Starring Sneha Kumari in the titular role, the Hindi action drama is based on Phoolan Devi’s autobiography, I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen. Following its festival run, the film will stream globally on Prime Video, though an exact release date is still under wraps.
A Standing Ovation at TIFF 2026
The world premiere of Phoolan took place on September 16, 2026, as part of TIFF’s coveted Special Presentation section. The screening was held at the Princess of Wales Theatre, one of Toronto’s most celebrated cultural landmarks. According to multiple reports, the audience of more than 2,000 gave the film a standing ovation, leaving the cast and crew visibly moved.
The film’s team, including Sneha Kumari, Anurag Thakur, Aakash Dahiya, and Vikram Pratap Singh, attended the premiere. They were joined by writer-director-producer Richie Mehta, along with producers Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kanwal Kohli, and Kishor Arora of Namah Pictures. Shilangi Mukherji, Director and Head of SVOD Business at Prime Video India, represented Amazon MGM Studios at the event.
The Story Behind Phoolan
Phoolan zooms in on a specific and brutal chapter of Phoolan Devi’s life: a 48-hour siege in which she, then just 17 years old, was trapped in a village by an armed group of 2,000 men sent to kill her. Rather than attempting to cover her entire life story, Richie Mehta chose to focus on this defining moment, using flashbacks to fill in her traumatic past.
The film is based on Phoolan Devi’s own autobiography, published by Editions Robert Laffont. The book recounts her child marriage, the caste discrimination she faced, her journey to becoming the Bandit Queen, her surrender, her time in prison, and her eventual election as a Member of Parliament from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. She was assassinated on July 25, 2001, outside her residence in New Delhi.
Richie Mehta on Stripping Away the Mythology
Speaking about the film at the world premiere, Richie Mehta shared his intention to present Phoolan Devi not as a legend, but as a human being. In a statement, he 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.”
Mehta also noted that he was initially hesitant to take on the project because he is a “non-resident Indian, Punjabi and a male filmmaker,” but changed his mind after reading the autobiography. He said he used Phoolan Devi’s own words as his foundation, focusing on themes she returned to repeatedly, particularly the intersection of poverty and gender.
A Talented Cast Brings Phoolan Devi to Life
Sneha Kumari leads the cast as Phoolan Devi, a performance that TIFF’s official description calls “riveting” and one that “unflinchingly challenges the suffocating patriarchy.” She is supported by Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachori, and Dev Dutt Budholiya in pivotal roles.
The film is produced by Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora, Kanwal Kohli, and Richie Mehta, under the banner of Namah Pictures. It is presented by Amazon MGM Studios and will be distributed by Prime Video. The cinematography is by Pip White, with editing by Beverley Mills and music by Andrew Lockington.
A Different Take from Bandit Queen
Phoolan Devi’s life was previously chronicled in Shekhar Kapur’s controversial 1994 film Bandit Queen, which starred Seema Biswas in the lead role. That film was based on Mala Sen’s book India’s Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi and sparked significant debate upon its release.
Richie Mehta’s Phoolan takes a different approach by narrowing its focus to a specific, intense period rather than attempting a full-life biopic. A review by Screen Rant noted that the film “benefits from narrowing its biopic focus,” centering on “a concentrated period of asymmetric chaos that perfectly reflects the systemic injustice she faced.”
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What’s Next for Phoolan
Following its world premiere at TIFF, Phoolan will have its global streaming release on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories. However, an official release date has not yet been announced.
Shilangi Mukherji of Prime Video India said in a statement:
“Our relationship with Richie Mehta goes back to Poacher, a fiercely personal project that became one of our most critically acclaimed Indian Originals. What defines Richie is his unwavering commitment to truth. He doesn’t sensationalize; he tells stories with a quiet, unflinching honesty that stays with you long after the credits roll. With Phoolan, backing his vision was instinctive.”
Shareen Mantri, producer at Namah Pictures, added:
“Amazon MGM Studios’ ability to bring meaningful cinema to a global stage, together, creates the right home for a story like Phoolan’s. Watching people at TIFF connect with her story reminded me why we made this film. There are stories that belong not just to one person, but to all of humanity. Phoolan’s life, defined by courage, dignity, and an unbreakable will to survive, is one such story.”
Phoolan runs for approximately 112-113 minutes and is a Hindi-language film. It was selected for a Special Presentation at TIFF 2026, which took place from September 10 to 20, 2026.
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