In the biographical film "The Bandit Queen", who played the lead role of Phoolan Devi?

Introduction / Context:
"The Bandit Queen" is a powerful Indian biographical film based on the life of Phoolan Devi, a woman who was first a bandit and later a Member of Parliament. The film is well known for its intense performances and realistic depiction of her life. Many general knowledge and film awareness questions ask who portrayed Phoolan Devi in this movie, since the performance won major critical acclaim and awards.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The film name "The Bandit Queen" is clearly mentioned. • The question asks for the actress who played the lead character Phoolan Devi. • Four female names are listed, some of whom are well known actresses and writers. • The task is purely based on film and role recognition.

Concept / Approach:
The key fact is that Seema Biswas played the role of Phoolan Devi in "The Bandit Queen". Her performance was widely praised and she became strongly associated with the character. To approach such questions, you should connect landmark films with their central performers, especially when the roles are biographical and intense. Cross checking with awards and film history in your preparation helps solidify these associations in memory.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify "The Bandit Queen" as the film based on the life of Phoolan Devi. Step 2: Recall the most talked about performance in this film, which is the actress who played Phoolan Devi. Step 3: Remember that Seema Biswas is famous for this role and received strong critical appreciation. Step 4: Look at the options and find Seema Biswas among the names given. Step 5: Confirm that Shabana Azmi and Rupa Ganguly acted in many other projects and that Arundhati Roy is primarily known as a writer. Step 6: Select Seema Biswas as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling articles or film references that often mention Seema Biswas and "The Bandit Queen" together. Award lists and film retrospectives repeatedly credit her with the central performance in the movie. Shabana Azmi and Rupa Ganguly are respected actresses with different signature roles, while Arundhati Roy is known more for her novel "The God of Small Things" than for acting in this film. These checks make it clear that Seema Biswas is the only accurate choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Shabana Azmi is a noted actress but did not play Phoolan Devi in "The Bandit Queen". Rupa Ganguly has acted in cinema and television but is not the lead actress in this particular film. Arundhati Roy is internationally known as an author and activist, not as the star of this movie.

Common Pitfalls:
One pitfall is assuming that only the most famous name must be the answer, leading some to pick Shabana Azmi without remembering the actual casting. Another mistake is not reviewing Indian cinema related GK and relying solely on casual movie watching, which may miss serious biographical films. To avoid these issues, spend some time revising major award winning Indian films, their directors, and their lead performers, especially in the context of biopics and historical dramas.

Final Answer:
The lead role of Phoolan Devi in the film "The Bandit Queen" was played by Seema Biswas, so Seema Biswas is the correct option.