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- 11 Sep, 2026
The Revolutionaries: Meet the 4 Forgotten Heroes Who Took on the British Raj
We know the names that dominate India’s freedom story. Mahatma Gandhi. Bhagat Singh. Subhas Chandra Bose. Rani Lakshmibai.
But here’s the thing: India’s freedom struggle was far bigger than the names we remember from textbooks.
There were revolutionaries who worked in secret, built underground networks, planned armed resistance and risked everything without knowing whether history would remember them.
That forgotten chapter is now getting the spotlight in Prime Video’s new period drama, The Revolutionaries.
Inspired by Sanjeev Sanyal’s bestselling book Revolutionaries: The Other Story of How India Won Its Freedom, the series follows four young revolutionaries who chose a dangerous path in their fight against British rule.
And no, this isn’t being positioned as a slow history lesson. Created and directed by Nikkhil Advani, the series promises action, rebellion, friendship, betrayal and plenty of high-stakes drama.
So, before you press play, let’s meet the four real heroes at the heart of the story of The Revolutionaries.
Who Are the Four Heroes at the Heart of The Revolutionaries?
The story brings together Rash Behari Bose, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Pratibha Lahiri and Bagha Jatin – four figures whose contributions to India’s revolutionary movement deserve a much bigger place in popular history.
1. Bhuvan Bam as Rash Behari Bose – The Revolutionary Who Took the Fight to the British
Long before he became associated with revolutionary activities outside India, Rash Behari Bose was already operating deep inside the freedom movement.
He was the mastermind behind the 1912 bomb attack on Viceroy Lord Hardinge and later played a role in efforts to organise a nationwide armed uprising in 1915. His work involved secrecy, planning and building revolutionary networks under constant British surveillance.
In the series, Bhuvan Bam steps into the role of Bose.
That casting alone makes the project intriguing. Bam is widely known for his comedy and digital-content journey, but here he gets to inhabit a far more intense historical figure.
And that is quite the acting switch.
2. Rohit Saraf as Sachindra Nath Sanyal – The Man Behind a Revolutionary Network
Sachindra Nath Sanyal was not simply another young rebel with a desire to fight. He was deeply involved in building organised revolutionary networks.
He was a founder of the Hindustan Republican Association and was associated with Rash Behari Bose. His revolutionary activities made him an important figure in the underground movement against British rule.
Playing him is Rohit Saraf, who is taking a sharp turn away from the romantic roles audiences often associate him with.
For the role, Saraf reportedly underwent around ten months of physical training, combining gym work with Kalaripayattu to develop the strength, agility and physicality required for the character.
So yes, expect a very different side of Saraf.
3. Pratibha as Lahiri – The Woman Behind the Underground Resistance
If revolutionary history has often been told through male heroes, Pratibha Lahiri’s presence changes that equation.
Lahiri was associated with the revolutionary movement and was the wife of Sachindra Nath Sanyal. She supported the freedom struggle through underground networks, making her an important part of the world being recreated on screen.
Pratibha Ranta plays Lahiri in the series.
Interestingly, Ranta has spoken about how limited historical information about Lahiri gave her and the makers creative space while developing the character. The team also looked at other young women revolutionaries of the period to understand the environment in which Lahiri operated.
And that makes her storyline one to watch closely.
4. Gurfateh Pirzada plays Bagha Jatin – The Fearless Rebel Who Refused to Back Down
Then there is Bagha Jatin – a revolutionary remembered for his fearlessness and his involvement with the secret revolutionary society Jugantar.
His story adds another layer to the series’ larger picture of underground resistance and armed rebellion.
Together, these four characters create a story that moves away from the usual freedom-struggle template and towards the lesser-known networks, choices and sacrifices that shaped India’s revolutionary movement.
Why The Revolutionaries Is More Than Another Period Drama
Here’s where Nikkhil Advani appears to be taking a different route for The Revolutionaries.
Instead of presenting the freedom struggle purely through solemn speeches and textbook-style storytelling, the filmmaker has described the project as a large-scale, high-octane action drama.
That approach makes sense for a story built around young revolutionaries. Their world was not quiet. It involved secret meetings, dangerous missions, coded communication, betrayal and the constant possibility of arrest or death.
Prime Video describes the show as an adrenaline-fuelled story about four brave hearts attempting to mobilise armed resistance against the British Empire.
In other words, history gets a little more pulse-pounding.
When Real History Sounds Too Bollywood
Perhaps the most fascinating thing about this story is that reality itself does much of the heavy lifting.
Sanjeev Sanyal’s book explores the lesser-known revolutionary side of India’s independence movement, and the series uses that material as its foundation.
The result is a fictionalised cinematic adaptation inspired by real events rather than a documentary-style retelling.
And that distinction matters.
Because some of the real incidents surrounding these revolutionaries sound so dramatic that they could easily be mistaken for movie inventions.
That is exactly why the story of The Revolutionaries has such potential: sometimes history doesn’t need extra masala. It already has enough.
From Bhuvan Bam to Rohit Saraf: The Cast Bringing These Heroes to Life
The Revolutionaries casting gives the series another interesting layer.
Bhuvan Bam plays Rash Behari Bose, while Rohit Saraf portrays Sachindra Nath Sanyal. Pratibha Ranta plays Pratibha Lahiri and Gurfateh Pirzada plays Bagha Jatin.
The supporting cast includes Jason Shah, Paoli Dam and Tota Roy Chowdhury in key roles.
It is an ensemble that mixes familiar faces with performers stepping into dramatically different territory.
And that could be one of the biggest draws.
The Revolutionaries Release Date, OTT Platform and Languages
The Revolutionaries release date is September 11, 2026.
The series is streaming exclusively on Prime Video and is releasing worldwide across more than 240 countries and territories. It is available in Hindi, with dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali, along with English and other international subtitles.
The The Revolutionaries release date also makes it one of the notable OTT launches of this weekend, arriving as part of Prime Video’s latest slate of Indian originals.
For viewers looking for a historical drama with action, youthful energy and real-life inspiration, the timing could hardly be better.
Why You Should Have “The Revolutionaries” on Your Watchlist
The biggest reason is simple: you may think you already know India’s freedom story. This series wants to show you the parts you probably don’t.
From Rash Behari Bose’s underground operations to Sachindra Nath Sanyal’s revolutionary network, Pratibha Lahiri’s contribution and Bagha Jatin’s fearless resistance, the series brings together stories that have often remained outside mainstream popular culture.
The Revolutionaries release date is here, but the bigger question is whether the show can turn forgotten history into appointment viewing.
With Bhuvan Bam and Rohit Saraf taking on dramatically different roles, Nikkhil Advani bringing his large-scale filmmaking style to the story, and four real revolutionaries at its centre, there is plenty to be curious about.
Because freedom was never won by just a handful of famous names.
Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones history almost forgot.
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