Alia Bhatt in Raazi to Deepika Padukone in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey: Sara Ali Khan becomes the latest fierce female freedom fighter in Bollywood with Ae Watan Mere Watan

Sara Ali Khan is on a roll. After portraying a glamourous Delhi socialite in Netflix’s Murder Mubarak (released on March 15), Sara will soon be seen as freedom fighter Usha Mehta in Ae Watan Mere Watan. Set to release on March 21, the historical thriller-drama sees the actress play a brave young girl who starts an underground radio station to spread the message of unity during the Quit India movement.

Over the years, Bollywood has delivered many patriotic films, including those about India’s freedom fighters. With just days left until Ae Watan Mere Watan premiers, here’s a list of movies featuring female freedom fighters. From Alia Bhatt’s Sehmat in Raazi to Deepika Padukone’s Kalpana Datta in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey and Kangana Ranaut’s Rani Lakshmibai – check out the list.

Soha Ali Khan in Rang De Basanti

In the 2006 Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial – also starring Aamir Khan, Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kapoor, and others, Soha Ali Khan essayed two characters – a student of international studies at the University of Delhi, Sonia Chaudhary and Indian revolutionary, Durgawati Devi. Durgawati was an active member in the armed revolution against the British Raj. She is also known for accompanying Bhagat Singh on the train journey – in which he escaped in disguise – after killing John P. Saunders, a junior British police officer.

Deepika Padukone in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

Released in 2010, Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey saw Deepika Padukone bring to life Kalpana Datta. The freedom fighter was a part of Master Da Surya Sen’s revolutionary team. The film – starring Abhishek Bachchan in the lead, is based on Manini Chatterjee’s Do and Die, and is an account of the 1930 Chittagong armoury raid. The film talks about the Chittagong uprising, including the attempt by armed Indian independence activists to raid the armoury of police and auxiliary forces in the British Raj’s Bengal Presidency. 

Alia Bhatt in Raazi

An adaptation of Harinder Sikka’s Calling Sehmat, Raazi is a true account of an undercover RAW agent who is married into a family of Pakistan military officers. Essayed by Alia Bhatt, the character in this Meghna Gulzar spy action thriller is tasked with relaying confidential information to India ahead of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi sees Kangana Ranaut bring to life Rani Lakshmibai aka Manikarnika. The film is based on the life of Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a woman warrior who was fearless on the battlefield and fought the British to reconquer the throne of Jhansi with her son strapped to her. However, after conquering the princely state of Gwalior, she gets shot by the British but burns herself to avoid being captured by the enemy.

Sara Ali Khan in Ae Watan Mere Watan

The soon-to-release film will see Sara Ali Khan play Usha Mehta of India’s freedom struggle in 1942. She is credited for organizing the Congress Radio an underground radio station which functioned during the Quit India Movement. In 1998, she was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, by the Government of India.

About Ae Watan Mere Watan

Besides Sara Ali Khan, the historical biographical drama also stars Anand Tiwari, Sachin Khedekar, Abhay Verma, Sparsh Shrivastav, Alexx O’Nell and Benedict Garrett. The Kannan Iyer directorial will also feature Emraan Hashmi in a cameo role.

How excited are you to watch Ae Watan Mere Watan on Amazon Prime Video this Thursday, March 21.

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