Nana Sahib (Dhondu Pant by birth) was the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II. He was refused the pension that his father had been receiving from the British because he was adopted. Being the Peshwa, he was highly offended. He had sent an ambassador from his side to England to discuss this issue, but was unable to convince the East India Company.

He had an active part in the Indian Mutiny. His brilliant general Tatya Tope won many battles and Nana Sahib's troops participated in the actions against the British at Kanpur (Cawnpore), including the massacres. Initially, Nana Sahib had promised to assist the British trapped there, but quickly joined the rebelling sepoys. After a British force relieved the town, however, Nana Sahib was defeated. He fled to Nepal and was never heard from again.