Seema Biswas (born 14 January 1965) is an Indian actress known for her work in Hindi cinema and the theatre. She rose to national prominence with her portrayal of the dacoit Phoolan Devi in Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen (1994), a performance that earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. She has since worked across mainstream Hindi films, international productions, and Indian television.
| Born | 14 January 1965 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress (film, television, theatre) |
| Primary industry | Hindi cinema |
| Notable debut role | Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen (1994) |
| Major awards | National Film Award for Best Actress; Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000); Genie Award for Best Actress (2006); Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress |
Biswas began her career on the stage before transitioning to films. Her training and experience in theatre have remained a defining feature of her work, and she has continued to engage with stage performance alongside her screen career.
Biswas's breakthrough came with Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen (1994), in which she played the bandit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi. The role brought her the National Film Award for Best Actress and established her as a leading dramatic actress in Indian cinema.
She followed this with a supporting role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), which won her the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her other notable Hindi film appearances include Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot (2003), Sooraj Barjatya's Vivah (2006), and Half Girlfriend (2017).
Biswas played Shakuntala in Deepa Mehta's Water (2005), the third film in Mehta's Elements trilogy. The performance won her the Genie Award for Best Actress in 2006, presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
In recognition of her contribution to Indian theatre, Biswas received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000, conferred by India's national academy for music, dance and drama.
Biswas has appeared in several Indian television series. Among her more recent television work is the Amazon Prime Video series The Family Man.
Biswas is regarded as one of the prominent character actresses of contemporary Hindi cinema, with a body of work that bridges parallel and mainstream cinema, international art-house films, theatre, and streaming television. Her portrayal of Phoolan Devi remains a reference point in discussions of Indian biographical cinema, while her work with Deepa Mehta extended her reach into world cinema.
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