Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Richie Mehta’s Phoolan Earns Standing Ovation at TIFF Premiere
Phoolan is a new Hindi action movie written and directed by Richie Mehta.
It tells part of Phoolan Devi’s life and is based on her autobiography.
The story focuses on a dangerous 48-hour siege.
Sneha Kumari plays Phoolan Devi.
The movie was shown for the first time at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It was screened at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.
More than 2,000 people watched the premiere.
The audience stood and applauded after the movie ended.
The film is expected to become available soon on Prime Video in India and many other places.
Richie Mehta’s Hindi action drama Phoolan received a standing ovation at its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.
More than 2,000 people attended the screening in TIFF’s Special Presentation section at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre.
Sneha Kumari stars as Phoolan Devi, alongside Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachouri and Dev Dutt Budholiya.
Based on Phoolan Devi’s autobiography, the film depicts a brutal 48-hour siege involving an armed group of 2,000 men.
Following its TIFF premiere, Phoolan is expected to stream on Prime Video in India and more than 240 countries and territories.
- Who
- The film was written and directed by Richie Mehta and stars Sneha Kumari as Phoolan Devi, with Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachouri and Dev Dutt Budholiya also appearing.
- What
- Phoolan, an Amazon Original Hindi action drama, received a standing ovation at its world premiere.
- When
- The premiere took place during the 51st Toronto International Film Festival; one report identifies the festival as TIFF 2026.
- Where
- The screening was held in the Special Presentation section at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.
- Why
- Mehta said he wanted to tell Phoolan Devi’s story honestly, move beyond mythology and explore resilience, dignity and the courage to claim one’s voice.
- Film
- Phoolan
- Writer and director
- Richie Mehta
- Lead performer
- Sneha Kumari as Phoolan Devi
- Festival
- 51st Toronto International Film Festival
- Festival section
- Special Presentation
- Venue and audience
- Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto; more than 2,000 attendees
- Source material
- I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India's Bandit Queen
- Upcoming release
- Prime Video in India and more than 240 countries and territories
