The extraordinary life of Devika Rani, the inspiration behind Amazon Prime’s Jubilee

Devika Rani, an Indian film actress and producer, is the inspiration behind the new Amazon Prime series “Jubilee,” which tells the story of a young woman who defies societal expectations and pursues her dreams in 1940s India.

Rani was born in 1908 to a wealthy family in India and was educated in England. After working in the textile industry for several years, she decided to pursue her passion for acting and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

In the 1930s, Rani moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) to work in the Indian film industry. She quickly made a name for herself as a talented actress and was soon cast in several successful films.

In 1934, Rani co-founded Bombay Talkies, one of the most influential film studios in Indian cinema history. She went on to produce and star in several films for the studio, many of which were ground-breaking for their depiction of women’s issues and social themes.

Rani was also known for her unconventional personal life, which included a tumultuous marriage to fellow actor and Bombay Talkies co-founder Himanshu Rai. Despite their difficulties, the couple remained business partners and continued to work together on films until Rai’s death in 1940.

Throughout her life, Rani was a trailblazer for women in Indian cinema and a fierce advocate for social justice. She was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in 1958 in recognition of her contributions to the arts.

RE-reported from the story originally published in Free Press Journal