What if the freedom story you thought you knew had several chapters still waiting to be told?

That is the question behind The Revolutionaries, Nikkhil Advani's new period drama that brings the lives of four lesser-highlighted revolutionaries to the screen. The trailer, released on August 26, gives a glimpse of a dangerous world of secret plans, armed resistance, British pursuit and sacrifices made in the name of freedom.

Starring Bhuvan Bam, Rohit Saraf, Gurfateh Pirzada and Pratibha Ranta, the series brings historical figures Rash Behari Bose, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Bagha Jatin and Pratibha Lahiri into the spotlight. Inspired by Sanjeev Sanyal's book Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom, the series will premiere worldwide on Prime Video on September 11, 2026.

But this is not simply another period drama about India's independence. Its focus is on a revolutionary stream of the freedom struggle that often receives less attention in popular retellings.

The Revolutionaries Trailer: A Dangerous Fight For Freedom

The trailer brings together four young revolutionaries united by a common objective: challenging British rule and fighting for India's freedom.

There is no shortage of action. Gunfights, chases, secret plans and tense confrontations establish the scale of the conflict. Yet the trailer also makes room for the people behind the revolution. Friendship, loyalty, courage and sacrifice appear to be just as important as the battles themselves.

Jason Shah plays General Dyer, who is shown pursuing the revolutionaries as their activities become a threat to the British Empire. This adds another layer of tension to a story in which the protagonists know that discovery could come at a devastating cost.

Prime Video describes the show as an action-driven story about four revolutionaries attempting to mobilise a nationwide armed resistance against the British Empire. Director and creator Nikkhil Advani has also described it as a character-driven drama exploring rebellion, sacrifice, friendship and freedom.

That balance between action and human emotion could be what sets the series apart.

Who Are The Four Revolutionaries?

The four central characters are based on real figures associated with India's revolutionary movement.

Bhuvan Bam plays Rash Behari Bose, while Rohit Saraf portrays Sachindra Nath Sanyal. Gurfateh Pirzada plays Bagha Jatin, whose real name was Jatindranath Mukherjee, and Pratibha Ranta plays Pratibha Lahiri.

Their stories also reveal that revolutionary activity during the freedom struggle was not confined to isolated acts. Networks connected activists across regions, organisations and, in some cases, international locations.

Rash Behari Bose: Bhuvan Bam's Revolutionary Turn

Rash Behari Bose was an important figure in the revolutionary movement and was involved in the Ghadar conspiracy of 1915.

The Ministry of Culture's account of the Ghadar movement records that Bose and Sachindra Nath Sanyal were among those involved in efforts to organise an uprising against British rule. The planned revolt was eventually foiled after British authorities received information about the conspiracy, leading to widespread arrests and executions.

ThePrint notes that Bose had earlier worked as a clerk at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun before becoming deeply involved in revolutionary activity. Following the failure of the Ghadar uprising, he escaped British pursuit and eventually lived in Japan.

For audiences familiar with Bhuvan Bam primarily through his digital and comic work, the role represents a significant departure.

Sachindra Nath Sanyal: Rohit Saraf's Character Has A Remarkable History

Sachindra Nath Sanyal was a leading revolutionary figure who worked closely with Rash Behari Bose. The Ministry of Culture records his involvement with the Anushilan Samiti, revolutionary organising in Punjab and the United Provinces, and the 1915 conspiracies connected with attempts to provoke an army revolt.

His revolutionary journey did not end with the failed 1915 uprising. Sanyal later became one of the founding figures of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), an organisation formed in 1924 to pursue revolutionary action against British rule.

He was also imprisoned multiple times, including detention in the Cellular Jail. The Ministry of Culture's records document his repeated involvement in revolutionary activities and his later arrest during the Second World War period.

There is another fascinating connection. Sanjeev Sanyal, whose 2023 book inspired the series, is the nephew of Sachindra Nath Sanyal. ThePrint reported this family link while covering the series.

Bagha Jatin: The Revolutionary Behind Gurfateh Pirzada's Role

Gurfateh Pirzada portrays Bagha Jatin, the popular name of Jatindranath Mukherjee.

Bagha Jatin was part of Bengal's revolutionary networks and became associated with the Jugantar movement. His name also appears in official records documenting the revolutionary activities surrounding the Ghadar conspiracy.

His connection with Rash Behari Bose and Sachindra Nath Sanyal is particularly significant. It shows how different revolutionary networks intersected as activists tried to organise resistance against British rule.

That interconnectedness is an important part of the history that the series appears keen to explore.

Pratibha Lahiri: Bringing Women Revolutionaries Into Focus

Pratibha Ranta plays Pratibha Lahiri, the only woman among the four central revolutionary characters.

Her presence gives the series an opportunity to highlight another side of the freedom movement: the participation of women in underground revolutionary networks.

ThePrint's report on the series places Lahiri's character in the broader context of women revolutionaries such as Bina Das, Kalpana Datta and Pritilata Waddedar.

This wider context matters because the revolutionary movement was not solely a story of men taking up arms. Women also participated in networks of resistance, faced imprisonment and persecution, and contributed to the larger struggle against colonial rule.

The Book Behind The Series

The series is inspired by Sanjeev Sanyal's 2023 book, Revolutionaries: The Other Story Of How India Won Its Freedom. Both NDTV and Prime Video identify the book as the source material for the series.

The book explores a part of India's independence story that can sometimes be overshadowed by the better-known narrative of the freedom movement.

That does not mean the revolutionary movement existed separately from the broader struggle for independence. Rather, it represents one of several approaches adopted by Indians opposing colonial rule.

Official records of the Ghadar movement, for instance, document attempts to organise an armed uprising in 1915 and the involvement of figures including Rash Behari Bose and Sachindra Nath Sanyal.

For viewers, the book offers useful context for understanding why these characters and their networks are central to the series.

Why This Story Still Matters

There is a reason forgotten or lesser-known historical stories continue to find their way back into popular culture.

Films and series can put a face to a name that readers may have encountered only briefly in history books. They can also encourage audiences to look beyond the most familiar figures and understand how complex India's freedom struggle really was.

The Revolutionaries appears to take that route by focusing on people whose lives were shaped by secrecy, resistance and the willingness to accept personal risk for a larger cause.

At the same time, viewers should remember that this is a period drama inspired by real events, not a documentary. The historical record provides the foundation, while the series uses dramatic storytelling to bring those events and personalities to life. Prime Video itself describes the project as inspired by true events and approached as a character-driven action drama.

That distinction is important. The best historical dramas do not replace history; they make us curious enough to revisit it.

The Revolutionaries Release Date, Cast And Where To Watch

The release date for the series is September 11, 2026. It will premiere worldwide exclusively on Prime Video.

The series is created and directed by Nikkhil Advani and produced by Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani under Emmay Entertainment. The writing team includes Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh, Akshita Wadhwana, Shobhit Narang and Rutvi Mehta.

Main cast

• Bhuvan Bam as Rash Behari Bose
• Rohit Saraf as Sachindra Nath Sanyal
• Gurfateh Pirzada as Bagha Jatin
• Pratibha Ranta as Pratibha Lahiri
• Jason Shah as General Dyer
• Paoli Dam
• Tota Roy Chowdhury

The series will stream in Hindi, with dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali. It will also be available across more than 240 countries and territories.