Singham is an Indian Hindi-language action film franchise produced by Reliance Entertainment and Rohit Shetty Picturez, directed by Rohit Shetty. The series stars Ajay Devgn as Bajirao Singham, a fearless and incorruptible police officer. The franchise forms the foundation of Rohit Shetty's wider Cop Universe, which also includes Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021), with crossover appearances by characters across these films.
The first film, Singham (2011), was a Hindi remake of the Tamil film Singam (2010), directed by Hari and starring Suriya. The Hindi franchise has since expanded into multiple sequels and a spin-off, becoming one of the most commercially successful action series in Hindi cinema.
| Franchise | Singham |
|---|---|
| Original language | Hindi |
| Genre | Action, Police drama |
| Created by | Rohit Shetty (Hindi adaptation) |
| Based on | Singam (2010 Tamil film) by Hari |
| Director | Rohit Shetty |
| Lead actor | Ajay Devgn as Bajirao Singham |
| Production companies | Reliance Entertainment, Rohit Shetty Picturez, Ajay Devgn FFilms (first film) |
| First film | Singham (2011) |
| Part of | Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe |
The franchise originated when Rohit Shetty acquired the rights to remake the Tamil action film Singam in Hindi. Released on 22 July 2011, the Hindi Singham retained the core story of an upright police officer from Goa confronting a powerful crime boss, while reworking the setting to the coastal village of Shivgadh in Maharashtra. The film's commercial success established the character of Bajirao Singham as a recurring screen figure and led to subsequent instalments.
Directed by Rohit Shetty and starring Ajay Devgn, Kajal Aggarwal and Prakash Raj, Singham released on 22 July 2011. The story follows Inspector Bajirao Singham of Shivgadh as he confronts the gangster Jaykant Shikre. The film was a major commercial success and is regarded as a turning point in Ajay Devgn's career as an action star.
Singham Returns released on 15 August 2014, with Ajay Devgn reprising the title role and Kareena Kapoor Khan as the female lead. The plot shifts focus to political corruption and the misuse of religion in public life, with Singham now serving as a senior police officer in Mumbai. Amole Gupte played the antagonist.
Singham Again released on 1 November 2024, coinciding with Diwali. The film features an ensemble cast led by Ajay Devgn, with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh (reprising Sangram "Simmba" Bhalerao), Akshay Kumar (reprising Veer Sooryavanshi), Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone (as Shakti Shetty) and Arjun Kapoor as the antagonist. The narrative draws on themes from the Ramayana and serves as a major crossover instalment within Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe.
While not titled Singham, the films Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021) feature Ajay Devgn appearing as Bajirao Singham in extended cameo roles, linking them to the Singham storyline within the shared Cop Universe.
The franchise is characterised by Rohit Shetty's signature filmmaking style, which includes large-scale action sequences, vehicle stunts and explosions, often shot in Goa, Mumbai and Hyderabad. The background score, particularly the recurring Singham theme, has become a recognisable element of the series. Music for the films has been contributed by composers including Ajay–Atul, Pritam, Meet Bros, Yo Yo Honey Singh and others across instalments.
The Singham series is considered influential in shaping the modern Hindi police-action genre, popularising the trope of the morally upright "encounter" officer in commercial cinema of the 2010s. It also paved the way for Rohit Shetty's Cop Universe, one of the earliest sustained shared cinematic universes in Indian cinema. The character of Bajirao Singham has become a recurring cultural reference in popular discussions of on-screen depictions of Indian police.