Actress Pratibha Ranta has opened up about embodying the little-known freedom fighter Pratibha Lahiri in the new Prime Video series 'The Revolutionaries', describing the historical figure as a curious, sharp-minded young woman who left a quiet but indelible mark on India's independence movement.

Who Was Pratibha Lahiri

'She was a very curious cat — she wanted to know everything about what was happening around her,' Ranta said during promotional events for the show in Mumbai, where she appeared alongside director Nikkhil Advani, co-stars Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, and Gurfateh Pirzada.

Ranta revealed that little about Lahiri exists in the public domain, making her research both a challenge and a personal discovery. One defining image guided her portrayal: the moment after revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad used his final bullet on himself rather than surrender to British forces, it was Pratibha Lahiri who rubbed his ashes on the foreheads of younger revolutionaries — a deeply symbolic act that spoke to her conviction and her understanding of the movement's generational stakes.

The Coded Letters and a Razor-Sharp Mind

'All the letters that were exchanged between Pratibha and Sachindra Nath Sanyal — because she was so smart, so sharp, she would solve the coded letters. And it was just absolutely amazing,' Ranta said.

Ranta said she built her character by asking foundational questions: 'How would she be when she was 17? What societal norms would she be fighting? How would she be looking at the world?' The actress described Lahiri as an avid reader, deeply interested in academics at a time when women's education was far from guaranteed — qualities that made her a clandestine asset to the revolutionary network.

What the Series Covers

'The Revolutionaries' traces the lives of four freedom fighters — Rash Behari Bose, Pratibha Lahiri, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, and Bagha Jatin — who championed armed resistance against British colonial rule. The series is inspired by true events and is set against the backdrop of India's freedom struggle.

According to the show's narrative, the sustained efforts of these revolutionaries contributed to the British Empire's decision to shift its capital from Kolkata to Delhi — a geopolitical concession rarely spotlighted in mainstream historical accounts. The cast also includes Jason Shah.

Now Streaming on Prime Video

'The Revolutionaries' is currently available to stream on Prime Video. With its focus on figures who operated in the shadows of more widely remembered leaders, the series attempts to fill a gap in popular historical storytelling — and for Ranta, that responsibility began with understanding a woman history nearly forgot.