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Prime Video's 'Phoolan' Is Inspired By A Book, Tracing The Real Story Behind Richie Mehta's New Film
The poster of Richie Mehta's upcoming film, 'Phoolan,' has been revealed by Amazon Prime Video. Release date for the film has not been confirmed yet.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleAmazon Prime Video is bringing a new film titled Phoolan to its platform. Notably, a release date for the film has not been announced yet. The upcoming movie has been directed by Richie Mehta, who is well-known as the creator of the critically acclaimed Netflix series, Delhi Crime.
Prime Video shared a poster of the film through its social media handles on July 21, 2026. As the name suggests, the movie is inspired by the life of Phoolan Devi. Keep reading to know more!
Phoolan Devi was a member of parliament before she died in 2001
Phoolan Devi was born around 1963 in Gorha ka Purwa village, near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, into a poor Mallah family. Published accounts and her autobiography I, Phoolan Devi describe a childhood of poverty and caste discrimination. She was married at the age of 11 to a man much older than her. According to court statements and media interviews, she faced abuse in the marriage and left to return to her village.
By the late 1970s, Phoolan Devi had entered the Chambal ravines and joined a gang of dacoits. Published reports state that after internal gang conflict, she was kidnapped and assaulted by members of an upper-caste group.
She escaped and later formed her own gang, gaining notoriety across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The case that brought her national attention was the 1981 Behmai massacre in Uttar Pradesh, where 22 men from the Thakur community were killed. Police named Phoolan Devi as the prime accused.
After evading arrest for over two years, she surrendered in February 1983 in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, in front of senior officials and the press. She spent about 11 years in Gwalior and other jails as an undertrial. In 1994, the Uttar Pradesh government withdrew the cases against her, and she was released.
Following her release, Phoolan Devi joined the Samajwadi Party. In 1996, she contested and won the Lok Sabha seat from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, becoming a Member of Parliament. She lost the seat in 1998 but won it again in 1999. As an MP, she spoke in Parliament on issues of poverty, caste violence, and women’s rights. Media reports from that period noted that her presence in the House drew attention to marginalised communities.
On July 25, 2001, Phoolan Devi was shot dead outside her official residence in New Delhi. Delhi Police arrested Sher Singh Rana, who was later convicted of the murder in 2014.
Richie Mehta’s Phoolan is being shown at the upcoming TIFF
The Toronto International Film Festival, also called TIFF, is scheduled from September 10 to September 20, 2026. Richie Mehta’s Phoolan will be shown at the upcoming event. As mentioned, Amazon Prime Video has not revealed a release date for the film.
However, the new poster shared by the streaming platform shows the lead character hiding from the authorities while they are searching for her. Latest reports have revealed that the movie is inspired by the book, I, Phoolan – The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen, written by Phoolan Devi. The movie’s logline has also hinted at the storyline as it says:
“Trapped and outnumbered by 2,000 armed men, Phoolan Devi fights a brutal 48-hour siege that will either end her life - or rewrite the rules of a man’s world.”
Notably, the lead role is being portrayed by Sneha Kumari. The supporting cast includes Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachori, and Dev Dutt Budholiya.
What are your thoughts about the upcoming film, Phoolan, on Amazon Prime Video? Let us know.
Also Read: Thalapathy Vijay Charged A Whopping Fee For Last Film, Jana Nayagan, Will Get Additional Bonus Too
