Honey Trehan to revisit Phoolan Devi’s life in new film after Bandit Queen

More than three decades after Bandit Queen brought Phoolan Devi’s turbulent life to the big screen, filmmaker Honey Trehan is set to revisit her story with a new film. Backed by producer Bobby Bedi, the yet-untitled project will explore the later chapters of Devi’s life, tracing her surrender to the police in 1983, years in prison, marriage and eventual political journey.

Directed by Shekhar Kapur, Bandit Queen (1994) portrayed the early life of Phoolan Devi, who became widely known as the ‘Bandit Queen’ before entering politics. The upcoming film will take the story forward from where the earlier cinematic account ended, focusing on the events that shaped her life following her surrender.

After surrendering in 1983, Devi spent 11 years in prison in connection with the Behmai massacre. The narrative will go on to explore her transition into politics, eventually leading to her assassination in 2001.

For Trehan, who signed on to the project last month, revisiting such a significant and complex chapter of Indian history comes with considerable responsibility. Acknowledging the influence of Kapur’s Bandit Queen on a generation of filmmakers, he has described the opportunity to carry the story forward as a special one.

Trehan has also said that the new film will acknowledge the significance of the original while building on the extensive research undertaken by Bedi. The filmmaker is currently immersed in developing the screenplay and further research.
The project marks another directorial venture for Trehan, whose previous film, Satluj, is yet to be released. Further details about the upcoming production, including its cast and release schedule, are yet to be announced.