Seema Parihar - the dreaded bandit who ruled the Chambal ravines for nearly two decades - is now set to cast her spell on Bollywood.

"Wounded" is a film on Seema's life and she essays the role herself to ensure that the portrayal is realistic.

Directed by Krishna Mishra "Wounded" has been exclusively shot on real locations like Seema's ancestral village and the areas ruled by her - Bihad and Bawine.

Mishra's film received the Critics Award at Leicester Expo Film Festival 2005, Britain, for realistic portrayal of the 13-year-old who becomes a dacoit.

Seema is optimistic about the film.

"I think everybody will like the film and it will be a success. Whatever is shown in the film is based on facts - my gang leader Lalaram's attitude towards me and the fact that I dumped my first husband Nirbhay Gujjar because he was a womaniser," Seema told.

Seema, who reigned over Chambal after the surrender of Phoolan Devi, decided to play her part because she did not want the director to take any cinematic liberties.

"I didn't want the director to distort facts about me and my life in Chambal as was done with 'Bandit Queen'."

Seema was not happy with Shekhar Kapoor's "Bandit Queen" because the portrayal was incorrect.

"In 'Bandit Queen' the people of Behmai strip Phoolan and parade her. And then she takes up arms to seek revenge. This is not true. Phoolan hailed from Jalaun district not Behmai. There is no connection between the two places."

Seema also condemns atrocities committed by Phoolan Devi.

"I was a bandit for 18 years and I know how things work there. One or two people can inform the police but not 23. I think Phoolan should not have killed innocent people," she said.

Seema was a member of the Lalaram and Nirbhay Gujjar gang and surrendered in June 2000. She is facing a trial in over a dozen cases registered at different police stations in Etawah, Auraiya and Jalaun.

Seema laid arms for the sake of her son.

"My life was wasted but I could change my son's, so I surrendered. Sagar was a little over a year old when I surrendered. He is now six. I am trying to provide him good education and a good life. I want him to be a doctor."

"Wounded" shows Seema as a moralist who never attacked innocent people.

When asked if she was trying to change her image through the film, she said: "Not at all. Everybody knows who I am. There may be some who don't know me by face but most of the people are familiar with my name. So, I am not trying to change my image through this film."

However, Seema is not apologetic about her life as a bandit.

"I used to accompany them on all missions - kidnappings, murders... I wasn't scared. I don't agree with people who say that men are stronger than women. If my gang-mates faced problems, I also went through the same and never complained."

Talking about her first husband Nirbhay, Seema said: "I broke all ties with him and threw him out of the gang."

Did he every try to get in touch with you?

"No. He never tried to join us. Initially, he worked with other gangs and later formed his own gang. When he was killed, I went to see him. His family was not getting his body so I helped them out.

"I spoke to the senior superintendent of police and district magistrate. After that his body was handed over to his family. I tried to fulfil my responsibilities," said Seema, who later accepted Lalaram as her companion and became the mother of his child.

Seema thinks she is lucky that she is getting so much attention and adulation in spite of her dreaded past.

She now lives with her family in her native village. "We are into farming. People can't seem to believe that this is the same Seema Parihar who used to be a synonym of terror.

"But I feel bad for my family who went through difficult times because of me - they were jailed and beaten. I feel they would not have suffered had Lalaram not kidnapped me."

"Wounded" is scheduled to hit cinema halls a few days after Diwali.