Indian film ‘Phoolan’ received an enthusiastic response at its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026. Written and directed by Richie Mehta, the film was screened in the festival’s prestigious Special Presentations section. More than 2,000 spectators attended the premiere on September 16, giving the film a standing ovation after the screening and applauding the cast and producers.

The premiere was held at Toronto’s renowned Princess of Wales Theatre, which witnessed a strong turnout. According to reports, the film received a positive response from the audience, with several viewers appearing visibly moved by its story and presentation. During the event, Richie Mehta said he was pleased that the film had left the same impact on audiences that he had hoped it would. Following the premiere, discussion around the film has also intensified internationally.

Based on the life of Phoolan Devi, who rose from being a bandit to becoming a Member of Parliament, the film has been produced under the banner of Namah Pictures by Sharin Mantri Kedia, Kishor Arora, Kanwal Kohli and Richie Mehta. The Amazon Prime Video original is based on ‘I, Phoolan Devi: The Autobiography of India’s Bandit Queen’. Sneha Kumari plays the lead role in the film. Following its world premiere at TIFF, the Hindi action drama will be released on Prime Video, although its release date has not yet been announced.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar