From Jhansi theatre to Phoolan Devi: How Sneha Kumari landed her first film role

Jhansi native Sneha Kumari made her cinematic debut as Phoolan Devi in the film Phoolan. At first, she was rejected from the role, but after her brother encouraged her, she redid the audition and was eventually chosen. Despite her family's reservations about her acting career, Sneha attended a month-long workshop in Mumbai with five others, where she prepared for the part with combat training and by studying Phoolan Devi's autobiography.

The actress, now 22, admitted to feeling nervous before filming began, but director Richie Mehta reassured her by encouraging her to imagine responding to the challenges Phoolan faced. Phoolan Devi's life was marked by years spent as a bandit in the Chambal valley before her release from prison in 1994 and eventual election as a Member of Parliament.

Her story inspired the Amazon MGM Studios film Phoolan, which chronicles a 48-hour siege in which Devi and her group evade the Indian police. Sneha's performance garnered support from her co-stars, and her parents were overjoyed when she received her debut film credit at the Toronto International Film Festival.