'Lioness': Aditi Rao Hydari and Paige Sandhu to feature Indo- UK production
'Lioness': An official Indo-U.K. co-production titled 'Lioness' has announced its cast, featuring Aditi Rao Hydari and Paige Sandhu. The announcement took place at the Cannes India pavilion on Tuesday.
'Lioness': An official Indo-U.K. co-production titled "Lioness" has announced its cast, featuring Aditi Rao Hydari and Paige Sandhu. The announcement took place at the Cannes India pavilion on Tuesday.
The film, written and directed by Kajri Babbar, is based on the historical research of Peter Bance, a historian renowned for his work on Princess Sophia Duleep. Princess Sophia was a notable figure in the British suffragette movement, the Princess of Punjab, the granddaughter of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria.
"Lioness" will explore the lives of two British Punjabi women who were born and raised in the UK, but with a century between them. Sandhu will portray the character of Sophia, drawing from her experience in popular British television shows like "Doctors" and "Emmerdale." On the other hand, Hydari will play the fictional character Mehak Kaur, an educated immigrant woman residing in Southall during the 1990s. While Sophia's story is based on historical accounts, Mehak's narrative is fictional.
Hydari expressed her immediate fascination with the story, remarking on its revival of a lost historical account of an extraordinary woman's life and legacy. She also highlighted the strength of Mehak as a character, whose journey mirrors that of the Lioness in the present. Sandhu conveyed her honor and excitement in portraying Sophia, acknowledging her remarkable accomplishments, the people she helped, and her prestigious lineage. Sandhu expressed a sincere hope to do justice to Sophia's inspiring narrative.
The production team of "Lioness" includes Vivek Rangachari, Vaishalli Paatil, Faraz Ahsan, Clare Cahill, and Ajit Pal Singh. The British Film Institute (BFI) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) have certified the movie, adding to its credibility and potential impact.