Overview
Singham is an Indian Hindi-language action film franchise created and directed by Rohit Shetty, produced under Rohit Shetty Picturez and co-produced by Reliance Entertainment. The series centres on upright police officers who use both procedural authority and physical force to confront organised crime, corrupt politicians, and terror networks. The franchise is the foundational pillar of Shetty's larger shared universe of cop dramas, popularly referred to as the Cop Universe, which also includes the Simmba and Sooryavanshi films.
The first instalment, Singham (2011), is a Hindi remake of the Tamil film Singam (2010) directed by Hari and starring Suriya. The Hindi series stars Ajay Devgn as Inspector (later Deputy Commissioner of Police) Bajirao Singham, an officer originally posted in the fictional town of Shivgadh in Goa.
Key facts
| Franchise name | Singham |
|---|---|
| Language | Hindi |
| Director | Rohit Shetty |
| Lead actor | Ajay Devgn |
| Production company | Rohit Shetty Picturez |
| Co-producer / distributor | Reliance Entertainment |
| First film | Singham (2011) |
| Based on | Singam (2010, Tamil) |
| Shared universe | Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe |
| Genre | Action, masala, police procedural |
Background
Following the commercial success of the Tamil film Singam, Rohit Shetty acquired remake rights and adapted it for the Hindi market with Ajay Devgn in the lead. Shetty, known for car-chase set-pieces and large-scale action, retained the broad narrative of an honest officer pitted against a politically connected crime lord while reshaping the visual style and humour for pan-Indian audiences. The success of the first film prompted a sequel and eventually expanded into a multi-film cinematic universe.
Films
Singham (2011)
Released on 22 July 2011, the film features Ajay Devgn as Bajirao Singham, a small-town Goa police officer who clashes with politician-gangster Jaikant Shikre, played by Prakash Raj (who reprised his role from the Tamil original). Kajal Aggarwal played the female lead. Shot extensively in Goa and Mumbai, the film became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2011 and re-established Devgn as a major action star.
Singham Returns (2014)
Released on 15 August 2014, the sequel sees Singham promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Police in Mumbai, taking on a corrupt godman and his political backer. Kareena Kapoor Khan played the female lead, with Amole Gupte and Zakir Hussain as antagonists. The film was released on Independence Day and was a commercial success.
Singham Again (2024)
Released on 1 November 2024 during the Diwali period, Singham Again is the third instalment and the fifth film in Shetty's Cop Universe. Alongside Ajay Devgn, the ensemble cast includes Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh (reprising Sangram Bhalerao from Simmba), Akshay Kumar (reprising Veer Sooryavanshi from Sooryavanshi), Deepika Padukone as Lady Singham (Shakti Shetty), Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. The narrative draws thematic parallels with the Ramayana.
Cop Universe connections
The Singham series is the originating thread of Rohit Shetty's interconnected cop films:
- Singham (2011) — introduces Bajirao Singham.
- Singham Returns (2014) — second Singham film.
- Simmba (2018) — features a cameo by Ajay Devgn as Singham, formally launching the shared universe.
- Sooryavanshi (2021) — brings together Singham, Simmba, and Sooryavanshi on screen.
- Singham Again (2024) — full ensemble crossover.
Recurring elements
- Ajay Devgn as DCP Bajirao Singham, characterised by a code of honesty, devotion to duty, and a temper that drives him toward extra-procedural action against criminals.
- Stylised action sequences, including signature flying-vehicle stunts associated with Rohit Shetty.
- Use of Marathi cultural and linguistic motifs, particularly references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the title's literal meaning ("lion").
- Antagonists drawn from politics, organised crime, religious fraud, and terrorism.
- Background score and theme music by composers including Ajay–Atul and Jeet Gannguli across instalments.
Significance
The Singham franchise is regarded as a defining example of the resurgence of mass-market Hindi action cinema in the 2010s, alongside other Tamil and Telugu remakes that reshaped Bollywood's commercial template. The character of Singham has become a cultural shorthand for the upright police officer in popular Indian discourse, and the franchise's expansion into a shared cinematic universe is among the earliest sustained attempts at such world-building in Hindi cinema. The films have also been noted for their portrayal of the Indian Police Service and for stylised depictions of state authority.