https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Lioness_%28upcoming_film%29Lioness (upcoming film) - Revision history2026-08-19T11:09:02ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lioness_(upcoming_film)&diff=430859&oldid=prevAjay Kumar: Creating a new article2023-09-28T16:53:32Z<p>Creating a new article</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=May 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Lioness<br />
| image = <br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = <br />
| director = Kajri Babbar<br />
| writer = Kajri Babbar<br />
| screenplay = <br />
| story = <br />
| producer = {{Plainlist|<br />
* Vivek Rangachari<br />
* Vaishalli Paatil<br />
* Faraz Ahsan<br />
* Clare Cahill<br />
}}<br />
| starring = {{Plainlist|<br />
* [[Paige Sandhu]]<br />
* [[Aditi Rao Hydari]]<br />
}}<br />
| narrator = <br />
| cinematography = <br />
| editing = <br />
| music = <br />
| studio = {{Plainlist|<br />
* [[National Film Development Corporation of India]]<br />
* [[British Film Institute]]<br />
}}<br />
| distributor =<br />
| released = <!-- {{Film date|df=yes|year|month|day|location|ref1=}} --><br />
| runtime = <br />
| country = <br />
| language =<br />
| budget = <br />
| gross = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''''Lioness''''' is an upcoming British-Indian film directed and written by Kajri Babbar. The film will centre around two British-Punjabi women living in England a century apart. One of the stories is based on the life of [[Sophia Duleep Singh]], the Princess of Punjab and one of the key leaders of the suffragette movement in the UK, and will be portrayed by [[Paige Sandhu]]. The other focuses on married immigrant Mehak, who lives in [[Southall]] in the 1990s, who will be portrayed by [[Aditi Rao Hydari]].<br />
<br />
[[Peter Bance]], a Sikh historian who did research into [[Princess Sophia Duleep Singh]], inspired the project and it will be the first co-production between the [[National Film Development Corporation of India]] and the [[British Film Institute]].<br />
<br />
==Premise==<br />
{{Cquote|Mehak uncovers a fascinating story of women's emancipation and empathy in contemporary times. The two stories play out in different eras, highlighting grit, determination and compassion.|author=Description of the film released by the production companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aditya Rao Hydari, Paige Sandhu to star in Indo-British production 'Lioness' |url=https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/entertainment/2461648-aditya-rao-hydari-paige-sandhu-to-star-in-indo-british-production-lioness |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=Devdiscourse |date=23 May 2023}}</ref>}}<br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
* [[Paige Sandhu]] as [[Sophia Duleep Singh|Princess Sophia]]<br />
* [[Aditi Rao Hydari]] as Mehak<br />
<br />
==Production==<br />
{{multiple image<br />
| width1 = 100<br />
| image1 = Paige Sandhu 2022 3.jpg<br />
| alt1 = A woman with dark brown hair smiling<br />
| width2 = 102<br />
| image2 = Aditi Rao Hydari grace Vogue Fashion Weekend in Delhi (06) (cropped).jpg<br />
| alt2 = A woman with dark brown hair in a beige dress<br />
| footer_align = center<br />
| footer = [[Paige Sandhu]] (''left'') and [[Aditi Rao Hydari]] (''right'') will be lead cast members.<br />
}}<br />
''Lioness'' was announced on 23 May 2023. It will be the first co-production between the [[National Film Development Corporation of India]] (NFDC) and the [[British Film Institute]] (BFI). [[Peter Bance]], a Sikh historian who did research into [[Princess Sophia Duleep Singh]], inspired the project. Writer and director Kajri Babbar will make her feature film debut on ''Lioness'', with the producer team consisting of Vivek Rangachari, Vaishalli Paatil, Faraz Ahsan and Clare Cahill. Researcher Bance, joined by Ajit Pal Singh, will act as executive producers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title='Emmerdale' Actor Paige Sandhu, 'Jubilee' Star Aditi Rao Hydari to Lead U.K.-India Co-Production 'Lioness' |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-jubilee-aditi-rao-hydari-uk-india-coproduction-lioness-1235622367/ |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523085516/https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-jubilee-aditi-rao-hydari-uk-india-coproduction-lioness-1235622367/ |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
<br />
The two central cast members were announced on 23 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderton |first1=Joe |title=Former Emmerdale star Paige Sandhu announces new role after Meena exit |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a43980461/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-lioness-movie/ |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616102557/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a43980461/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-lioness-movie/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Paige Sandhu]] was confirmed to be in the role of historical figure Princess Sophia, the Princess of Punjab, goddaughter of [[Queen Victoria]] and a key figure in the [[suffragette movement]] in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aditya Rao Hydari, Paige Sandhu to star in Indo-British production 'Lioness' |url=https://theprint.in/india/aditya-rao-hydari-paige-sandhu-to-star-in-indo-british-production-lioness/1589909/ |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=[[ThePrint]] |date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926180443/https://theprint.in/india/aditya-rao-hydari-paige-sandhu-to-star-in-indo-british-production-lioness/1589909/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Aditi Rao Hydari]] was announced as Mehak, a fictional immigrant living in [[Southall]] in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hibbs |first1=James |title=Emmerdale star Paige Sandhu lands major role after Meena downfall |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-lioness-film-newsupdate/ |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=[[Radio Times]] |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606052203/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale/emmerdale-paige-sandhu-lioness-film-newsupdate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sandhu described it as "an honour and a dream" to be portraying someone with an important legacy.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite news |last1=Shackleton |first1=Liz |title=Aditi Rao Hydari & Paige Sandhu Feature 'Lioness' Set As First Official UK-India Co-Production |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/aditi-rao-hydari-paige-sandhu-uk-india-co-production-lioness-1235376090/ |access-date=23 May 2023 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926180433/https://deadline.com/2023/05/aditi-rao-hydari-paige-sandhu-uk-india-co-production-lioness-1235376090/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hydari was drawn to the project due to the storytelling of two extraordinary women. She said that despite Princess Sophia being a true heroine, her character was equally as strong.<ref name="Deadline" /><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* {{IMDb title|21806400}}<br />
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{{Suffrage}}<br />
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[[Category:2020s biographical drama films]]<br />
[[Category:2020s English-language films]]<br />
[[Category:2020s historical drama films]]<br />
[[Category:Biographical films about revolutionaries]]<br />
[[Category:British biographical drama films]]<br />
[[Category:Films about activists]]<br />
[[Category:Upcoming English-language films]]</div>Ajay Kumar