About

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi tells the true story of Lakshmibai, the historic Queen of Jhansi who fiercely led her army against the British East India Company in the infamous mutiny of 1857. From Queen Elizabeth to Queen Victoria, two-and- a half-centuries of East India Company rule will be reversed by its attempt to crush India’s Warrior Queen. Lakshmibai is known as one of the most prominent figures within the independence movement of India. The passion to free her province from colonial rule led this young woman to become one of the greatest generals of the Indian army, and to go down in history for her bravery, strategic acumen, and as a force to reckon with by the East India Company and the British Raj. The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is the story of the woman who lived and fought for the freedom of her people.

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI (2019)

Swati Gupté Bhisé: Director, Writer, Producer

Banner artwork for The Warrior Queen of Jhansi

Synopsis

  • A period drama based on the life of the iconic Rani Lakshmibai, a hero of India’s first war of independence.
  • Premiered in theatres across the U.S., India, and Canada in November 2019, followed by a VOD release and further global screenings in 2020 across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the Middle East.

Achievements

  • First Hollywood action film with a female Indian lead.
  • Won the WIFTV (Women In Film & TV) Impact Award at the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival.
  • Received the prestigious ReFrame (Behind & Front of the lens) Stamp for promoting gender parity in filmmaking.
  • The Warrior Queen of Jhansi has been named in the Top Five Historical Women Who Could Kick Your Ass by Frock Flicks

https://frockflicks.com/top-five-historical-women-who-could-kick-your-ass/ (opens in a new tab)

  • WION (World Is One News) has named The Warrior Queen of Jhansi amongst the Top Exceptional Hollywood Films made on the theme of Indian Independence along with the likes of Gandhi, Viceroy’s House and A Passage to India.

https://youtu.be/jKtUQNo1GwM (opens in a new tab)

Social Impact

  • Inspired the creation of the Warrior Queen Project, a non-profit aimed at empowering women and closing the gender gap.
  • The “Spirit of the Rani” Award was introduced to honor 11 trailblazing women in India and the U.S. for their contributions to social transformation.
  • Teaching course at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada,
    under COLA program (College of Liberal Arts).

Watch The Warrior Queen of Jhansi on Digital & DVD in USA.

Cast and Crew

Swati Gupté Bhisé

Director

“I wanted to make this film to tell an inspirational story to a global audience. It’s an incredible story about a woman who fought for what she believed in. Her story is one of female empowerment, more relevant now than…

“I wanted to make this film to tell an inspirational story to a global audience. It’s an incredible story about a woman who fought for what she believed in. Her story is one of female empowerment, more relevant now than ever, and can be drawn upon to inspire women all around the world.”

Swati Gupté Bhisé has had a career over the last 30 years in the creative arts spanning Indian classical arts, media talk shows, arts in education, women’s empowerment, choreography and film production. Swati is the CEO of Cayenne Pepper Productions and Executive Producer/Associate India Producer for the 2016 film The Man Who Knew Infinity. She has choreographed Broadway shows such as The Transposed Heads and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She is also on the executive committee of the Asia Foundation focusing on global women’s empowerment issues. She has had a lifelong stellar career as a Bharatanayam dancer spanning many decades including landmark performances such as the 40th anniversary of the U.N. She has also trained a generation of American children in Indian classical arts. She was the U.S. correspondent for Sruti Magazine and also the anchor of the TV program Spotlight on Culture.

Swati Bhisé runs the Sadir Theatre Festival which has been running for 8 consecutive years in Goa, India.

Devika Bhisé

Lead Actress — as Rani

Devika Bhisé is a talented actress, dancer, and jazz vocalist. Bhisé is most well known for her role as Janaki, the wife of Ramanujan, in the film The Man Who Knew Infinity starring Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel. Early in…

Devika Bhisé is a talented actress, dancer, and jazz vocalist. Bhisé is most well known for her role as Janaki, the wife of Ramanujan, in the film The Man Who Knew Infinity starring Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel. Early in her career, Bhisé was featured in The Accidental Husband, starring Uma Thurman and Collin Firth. Beyond her work in film, the actress has starred in a number theatrical productions in New York including Chad Beckim’soff-Broadway play And Miles To Go, and the lead role in Stephen Belber’s We Are Among Us, starring Edie Falco. Born and raised in New York City, Bhisé attended The Brearley School, after which she attended Johns Hopkins University, where she was awarded the Hodson Trust Scholarship and the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship under the mentorship of the award- winning actor, John Astin. As a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Bhisé brought the nearly extinct UNESCO heritage art form, Kudiyattam, to the United States for the first time. At eighteen years old, Bhisé directed and produced a documentary short film titled Hijras: The Third Gender, which won the award for Best Social Documentary at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival. Bhisé is also a trained Indian classical dancer and has performed as a soloist at numerous venues including Lincoln Center and Asia Society.

Devika enjoys jazz singing, horseback riding and is passionate about animals.

Devika is a member of SAG.

Swati Gupté Bhisé and Devika Bhisé

Cast

Crew

The Spirit of the Rani Awards

Established in 2019, the Spirit of the Rani Award honours women whose lives and achievements embody the courage, resilience, leadership, and unwavering determination of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. A symbol of valour, independence, and defiance in the face of overwhelming odds, the Rani challenged the social conventions of her time and stood fearlessly against the forces of imperial power. More than 160 years after her death, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is a salute to this iconic woman whose empowered…

Established in 2019, the Spirit of the Rani Award honours women whose lives and achievements embody the courage, resilience, leadership, and unwavering determination of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi. A symbol of valour, independence, and defiance in the face of overwhelming odds, the Rani challenged the social conventions of her time and stood fearlessly against the forces of imperial power. More than 160 years after her death, The Warrior Queen of Jhansi is a salute to this iconic woman whose empowered spirit remains relevant; her story remains a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of women who dare to lead and create change.

Inspired by her enduring legacy, the Spirit of the Rani Award celebrates contemporary women who have broken barriers, challenged conventions, and made a meaningful impact in their communities, professions, and the wider world. Through their vision, courage, and commitment to service, these remarkable women carry forward the warrior queen’s spirit, inspiring future generations to lead with purpose, conviction, and compassion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR9ZN49gtfA (opens in a new tab)

The Spirit of the Rani Awards

Awardees

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019) in the News

Awards

The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi wins the Impact Award at VIWFF 2019!

The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi wins the Impact Award at VIWFF 2019!

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (formerly titled Swords…

The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi wins the Impact Award at VIWFF 2019!

The Warrior Queen Of Jhansi wins the Impact Award at VIWFF 2019!

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (formerly titled Swords & Sceptres) was honoured with the WIFTV Impact Award, which recognized powerful films showcasing the impact of women on our world.

In presenting the award, the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival (VIWFF) stated:

"The Warrior Queen of Jhansi reminds us that female empowerment isn't a new phenomenon. It is present throughout our history, led by women like the Queen of Jhansi, who is brought to life in this film with passion and style. These women should be remembered and celebrated for their impact on us all."

The award recognized the film's powerful portrayal of Rani Lakshmibai's courage, leadership, and enduring legacy, celebrating her as one of history's most inspiring icons of female empowerment.

Received the prestigious ReFrame Stamp for Gender-Balanced Production, awarded by ReFrame—a collaboration between the Sundance Institute and Women In Film—in…

Received the prestigious ReFrame Stamp for Gender-Balanced Production, awarded by ReFrame—a collaboration between the Sundance Institute and Women In Film—in recognition of the film's commitment to promoting gender equity through inclusive hiring both behind and in front of the camera.

Awards