Personal Information

Full Name: Seema Biswas

Nickname: Phoolan

Country/State: India

Date of Birth: 1965-01-14

Languages Known: Hindi, English, Marathi, Bhojpuri (conversational)

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian

Religion: Hinduism

Hobbies: Theater performances, reading literature, spending time with family, social work (women's empowerment & rural upliftment)

Education

School: Local schools in Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh

College: National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi (graduated 1984)

Degrees Obtained: Diploma in Acting (National School of Drama

Physical Stats

Height: 165 cm

Weight: 60 kg

Family Information

Parents: Father: Jagdish Biswas (civil engineer) Mother: Meena Biswas (homemaker)

Siblings: Not publicly disclosed

Marital Status: married

Wife: Himanshu Malhotra (film distributor; divorced 2001)

Children: 0

Career

Current Position: Actress, Theater Artist (active in Hindi films, OTT, TV, and theater; selective roles)

Skills:

Net Worth: Approximately ₹40–80 crore (from long career in films, theater, TV serials, endorsements)

Awards & Achievements: National Film Award for Best Actress – Bandit Queen (1994) Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Bandit Queen (1995) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting (Theater) – 2000 Iconic role as Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen (1994) directed by Shekhar Kapur Other notable works: Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Company (2002), Vivah (2006), Gulaal (2009), Balika Vadhu (TV), Laado 2 (TV) Known as one of the finest character actresses in Indian cinema; powerful portrayals of rural, marginalized women

Biography Details

Seema Biswas (born January 14, 1965, in Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh) is a National Award-winning Indian actress renowned for her intense, realistic performances. Trained at the National School of Drama (NSD), she debuted in theater and gained international acclaim with Bandit Queen (1994), playing Phoolan Devi, earning the National Film Award for Best Actress.

Known for powerful portrayals of rural and oppressed women, she starred in Khamoshi: The Musical, Company, Vivah, Gulaal, and TV shows Balika Vadhu and Laado 2. Divorced from film distributor Himanshu Malhotra (1997–2001), she has no children. At 60, she remains active in selective films, OTT, theater, and social causes (women's empowerment, rural education). Her grounded, powerful screen presence and theater roots make her one of Indian cinema's most respected character actors.

• January 2026: Seema Biswas attended a theater festival in Delhi commemorating NSD alumni; performed a short play and spoke about the importance of theater in shaping powerful women characters on screen.
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• January 2026: Tributes continued for her 31st anniversary of Bandit Queen (1994 release); fans and critics shared clips praising her transformative performance as Phoolan Devi.
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• January 2026: She spoke in a virtual panel on women's empowerment and rural education, sharing experiences from her early life in Madhya Pradesh and her commitment to social causes.
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• Ongoing: No major film or OTT release announced early 2026; she remains selective with projects, focusing on theater, guest appearances, and advocacy for women's rights & rural upliftment. No controversies or health updates noted in early 2026.

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