Aditi Rao Hydari and Paige Sandhu Collaboration: Aditi Rao Hydari, along with British actress of Indian origin, Paige Sandhu, is gearing up to captivate audiences in the upcoming film ‘Lioness’. This highly anticipated movie is an official co-production between India and the United Kingdom, developed under the bilateral treaty established by both countries in 2008. The exciting announcement took place on Tuesday at the India Pavilion during the renowned Cannes Film Festival, managed by FICCI under the guidance of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Aditi Rao Hydari and Paige Sandhu Collaboration for Lioness:
Directed and written by Kajri Babbar, ‘Lioness’ will delve into the intriguing life of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, the granddaughter of the esteemed Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria. A prominent figure in the suffragette movement, Sophia played a vital role in advocating for women’s and children’s rights in the United Kingdom.
ADITI RAO HYDARI – PAIGE SANDHU TO STAR IN INDO-BRITISH CO-PRODUCTION ‘LIONESS’… #AditiRaoHydari and #PaigeSandhu [who won accolades for her performance in #ITV soap #Emmerdale] will star in #Lioness.#Lioness is written-directed by award-winning film-maker #KajriBabbar.
The… pic.twitter.com/i2U1FTD5W6
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 23, 2023
About the film ‘Lioness’:
Portraying the character of Sophia, Paige Sandhu will bring this historical figure to life on the screen. Alongside Sophia’s narrative, the film also weaves a fictional tale set in 1990s Southall, revolving around Mehak Kaur, an educated and married immigrant woman. Mehak embarks on a compelling journey that uncovers the essence of women’s liberation and empathy in contemporary times. These parallel stories, spanning different eras, shine a light on resilience, determination, and compassion.
Aditi Rao Hydari will take on the role of Mehak Kaur, infusing the character with her talent and presence. Drawing inspiration from the research of Peter Bance, a historian credited with discovering Princess Sophia Duleep Singh’s story, ‘Lioness’ is being produced by Vivek Rangachari, Vaishalli Paatil, Faraz Ahsan, Clare Cahill, and Ajit Pal Singh (as Executive Producer). The film has received certification from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the British Film Institute (BFI), further solidifying its promising trajectory. Peter Bance also serves as one of the executive producers.
Additionally, a plaque commemorating the Punjabi Suffragette Princess will be unveiled at Hampton Court, UK, on May 26, by English Heritage. This event is part of the renowned London Blue Plaque scheme, which honors notable individuals and the places associated with their lives and work. Following the unveiling, a celebratory reception will be hosted at the Palace by Babbar Movies and the Anglo Punjab Heritage Foundation.
Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary of Films at the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, and Managing Director of NFDC, expressed heartfelt congratulations to the co-production, emphasizing the success of films produced under this collaboration. The event promises to be a star-studded affair, graced by members of English Heritage, the British Parliament, representatives from the Indian and UK film industries, historians, and acclaimed authors, with OBE Gurinder Chaddha delivering the keynote address.
Work Front of Aditi Rao Hydari:
On the work front, Aditi Rao Hydari was last seen in Amazon Prime Video’s web series Jubilee alongside Aparshakti Khurana. Next, she will be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming series Heeramandi co-starring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Sehgal.
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