BOLLYWOOD actress Bhumi Pednekkar has been roped in to play Belawadi Mallamma in the upcoming historical The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Bhumi will essay the role of Belawadi Mallamma, the fearless warrior queen remembered for her courage and unwavering spirit. She will be seen alongside names such as Rishab Shetty, Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi to name a few. Bhumi said in a statement: "I'm deeply honoured to be part of the first-ever Indian cinematic spectacle of this scale on the life and legacy of the great Maratha warrior-king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

 

“It’s a privilege for me to play Karnataka’s brave warrior queen Belawadi Mallamma and to bring her to life on screen.” The actress revealed why she said “yes” to the film. “I am a huge Kantara fan, and the stunning performance by Rishab Shetty blew me away; hence, the moment Sandeep narrated the film, the actor in me instantly said yes. This is unlike anything I've done before, and I'm grateful to the makers for seeing me in a completely new light,” shared the actress. Directed and produced by Sandeep Singh, The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is planned as a twopart saga.