Meet Neera Arya: Freedom Fighter & India’s First Woman Spy Gets a Biopic

Neera Arya, hailed as India’s first woman spy and a fearless participant in the country’s freedom movement, is set to be immortalised on screen. Her story, long overlooked, will soon unfold in a biopic that seeks to honour her sacrifice and restore her place in history. 

Meet Neera Arya: Freedom Fighter & India’s First Woman Spy Gets a Biopic

Directed, produced, and headlined by Roopa Iyer, Neera Arya is a Hindi film based on real events, bringing the story of a forgotten Indian freedom fighter to the big screen. The movie is being made under the banners of R2 Patriotic Films LLP and Roopa Iyer Film Factory (RIFF), with support from R&DS Productions. The film is being presented by Pranav Desai.

The story of Neera Arya follows the emotional and brave journey of a woman from the Indian National Army (INA) who gave her life for India’s independence. Roopa Iyer will be playing the lead role, while the rest of the cast is yet to be announced. The film’s music, which promises to stir patriotic emotions, is being composed by Gautham Srivatsa.

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Roopa Iyer, known for her work in South Indian cinema, has received two state awards and over 40 international awards. Speaking about the film, Roopa shared that she was deeply moved by Neera Arya’s story, especially the fact that the freedom fighter stood up against her own family for the country. The movie is expected to be an emotional and powerful tribute to her courage.

More about Neera Arya

Neera Arya was born on March 5, 1902, in Khekra Nagar, Baghpat district, into a respected and wealthy family. Her father, Seth Chhajjumal, made sure Neera and her brother Basant received a good education in Kolkata. From a young age, Neera was deeply patriotic. After finishing school, she joined the Rani Jhansi Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army).

Neera was married to Srikant Jai Ranjan Das, a British Army officer and CID inspector, but their views clashed. When Srikant discovered that Neera was working with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, he tried to extract information from her. She refused. 

One day, while Neera was meeting Bose, Srikant followed her and opened fire, injuring Bose’s driver. To protect Netaji, Neera acted quickly and killed her husband. After this, the British arrested her and sent her to the notorious Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In jail, Neera was tortured and offered bail in exchange for secrets about Bose and the Congress leaders. She refused and even spat at a guard. As punishment, she was brutally tortured—historical reports say her breasts were cut off. 

Yet, Neera never gave in. Her courage earned her the title of the first woman spy of the Azad Hind Fauj from Bose himself.