World Premiere: Phoolan Devi Biopic Applauded at Toronto International Film Festival

Richie Mehta’s Phoolan received a strong response at its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, with the Hindi-language action drama earning a standing ovation from a packed audience.

The film was screened on September 17, 2026, at Toronto’s iconic Princess of Wales Theatre as part of TIFF’s Special Presentation section. Reports said more than 2,000 people attended the screening.

Sneha Kumari plays Phoolan Devi

Phoolan stars newcomer Sneha Kumari in the titular role of Phoolan Devi. The cast also includes Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachouri and Dev Dutt Budholiya in key roles.

Sneha Kumari led the film’s contingent at the Toronto premiere, appearing on the red carpet alongside members of the cast and the creative team. Director Richie Mehta and producers from Namah Pictures also attended the event.

Based on Phoolan Devi’s autobiography

The film is inspired by Phoolan Devi’s autobiography, I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen.

Rather than attempting to chronicle every stage of Phoolan Devi’s life, Mehta’s film focuses on a defining chapter from her early years. The story centres on a violent 48-hour siege, during which Phoolan Devi is trapped in a village by a large armed group.

The approach gives the film a more concentrated narrative, focusing on the circumstances that shaped the woman behind the public mythology associated with Phoolan Devi.

A 48-hour siege at the heart of the story

At the centre of Phoolan is an intense episode involving an armed group of around 2,000 men.

The story explores Phoolan Devi’s struggle during the siege and the circumstances surrounding her resistance. According to reports about the film, Mehta was particularly interested in examining the person behind the legend rather than simply reproducing the familiar public image of the so-called “Bandit Queen.”

The film therefore takes a focused approach to a chapter of Phoolan Devi’s life rather than functioning as a conventional cradle-to-grave biopic.

Standing ovation at TIFF

The world premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre ended with a standing ovation from the packed audience.

The response was widely reported as a significant moment for the film’s team, with the audience applauding the cast and filmmakers following the screening. The premiere also brought international attention to Mehta’s latest project and its interpretation of one of India’s most widely known and debated historical figures.

The film’s TIFF presentation was part of the festival’s Special Presentation lineup, placing Phoolan among the prominent titles showcased during the 2026 festival.

Richie Mehta moves beyond the mythology

For Richie Mehta, Phoolan represents an attempt to look beyond the mythology surrounding Phoolan Devi and explore the individual behind the public persona.

The filmmaker has spoken about the need to tell her story with honesty and said he was drawn to a specific period in her life that revealed the person behind the legend.

Mehta is known internationally for projects including Delhi Crime and Poacher. With Phoolan, he turns his attention to a historical figure whose life has previously been portrayed on screen, most notably in Shekhar Kapur’s 1994 film Bandit Queen.

How Phoolan differs from earlier portrayals

The decision to focus on a single, highly intense period distinguishes Mehta’s film from broader biographical portrayals.

Rather than covering Phoolan Devi’s complete journey from childhood through her later political career, Phoolan concentrates on the events surrounding the 48-hour siege and the experiences that shaped her identity.

That structure allows the film to examine survival, resistance and the forces surrounding Phoolan Devi at a crucial point in her life.

When will Phoolan release on Prime Video?

Phoolan is an Amazon MGM Studios original produced by Namah Pictures. Following its world premiere at TIFF, the film is set to stream on Prime Video in India and internationally.

A specific streaming release date has not yet been announced.

The Toronto premiere therefore serves as the film’s first major international showcase before its eventual release on Prime Video.