The white lady in Lagaan is Elizabeth Russell, played by Rachel Shelley. She is a British woman who is the Collector's niece and a resident of the cantonment in the fictional village of Champaner, India. Elizabeth becomes romantically involved with Bhuvan, the lead character, during the cricket match, providing a unique and intriguing dynamic to the narrative.
- Elizabeth's presence in the film adds complexity to the social and political tensions between the British colonizers and the Indians.
- She acts as a bridge between the two cultures, symbolizing a potential for understanding and reconciliation.
- However, her position in the film also raises questions about the role of white women in colonial narratives.