Richie Mehta's Phoolan gets standing ovation at Toronto Film Festival

Richie Mehta’s Phoolan received a standing ovation at its world premiere at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film was screened at the iconic Princess of Wales Theatre as part of the festival’s Special Presentation section.

The Amazon Original Movie was watched by a packed audience of more than 2,000 people. The Hindi action drama stars Sneha Kumari as Phoolan Devi, with Anurag Thakur, Vikram Pratap Singh, Aakash Dahiya, Prateek Pachouri and Dev Dutt Budholiya in key roles.

Phoolan is based on Phoolan Devi’s autobiography, I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen. The film focusses on a defining 48-hour period in her life, when she faces a siege involving an armed group of around 2,000 men.Richie Mehta on Phoolan

Speaking about the film’s world premiere, writer-director and producer Richie Mehta said he wanted to move beyond the mythology surrounding Phoolan Devi and explore the person behind the legend.

“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,” he said.

Mehta added that the themes explored in the film continue to remain relevant.

Reflecting on the response at TIFF, he added, "To witness the audience at TIFF rise to their feet, visibly moved, tells me that Phoolan's story has connected in exactly the way we hoped it would. I hope I have done justice to her voice and her story, the way she wanted the world to know." Phoolan premieres at TIFF

Producer Shareen Mantri Kedia said the TIFF premiere was a proud moment for the team and praised Sneha Kumari’s performance as Phoolan Devi.

“Richie Mehta has brought such honesty and sensitivity to every frame, and Sneha Kumari has delivered a truly remarkable performance as Phoolan that I believe will resonate deeply with audiences,” she said.

The film’s cast and creative team attended the world premiere in Toronto. Sneha Kumari, Anurag Thakur, Aakash Dahiya and Vikram Pratap Singh were among those present, alongside Mehta and the film’s producers.

Produced by Shareen Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora, Kanwal Kohli and Richie Mehta, Phoolan is a Namah Pictures production. Following its TIFF premiere, the film is set to stream on Prime Video in India and worldwide. The streaming release date is yet to be announced.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Sep 17, 2026 12:36 IST