What to Remember Before Watching ‘Singham Again’

Picture low-angle shots of cops striding around in uniform, criminals soaring through the air after being punched, cars breaking through walls, with of course, the signature roar of justice in the background — and you’ve got the essence of Rohit Shetty’s cop universe. From Singham (2011) to Singham Returns (2014), Simmba (2018) and Sooryavanshi (2021), Shetty’s blockbusters have successfully rebranded the quintessential action film in India.

Gearing up for the release of Singham Again (2024), the latest addition to the first-ever Indian cinematic universe, The Hollywood Reporter India looks back at the films that preceded it, recapping all the nostalgic cameos and high-octane moments.

Singham (2011)

Singham, a remake of the 2010 Tamil film of the same name, became a cult-favourite overnight. Starring Ajay Devgn as the indomitable Bajirao Singham, it drew inspiration from Maratha history and the unyielding courage of legendary Peshwa Baji Rao I. It was one of the first mainstream Bollywood action films to feature iconic dialogues in Marathi — Devgn’s ‘aata majhi satakli’ [I have lost my mind] has certainly gone down in cinematic history. Set in Shivgadh, a village near the Goa-Maharashtra border, Singham was a commentary on the police force in India — all through a character who was the very emblem of righteousness himself.

Singham Returns (2014)

True to its title, Bajirao Singham returned to fighting corruption in this action-packed sequel. Set predominantly in Mumbai, the second film in the series revolved around a corruption scandal involving the use of black money during elections. The film also took on a religious angle, wherein the perpetrator, played by actor Amole Gupte, was a godman who used his influence to sway public opinion. Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan as Devgn’s love interest, Singham Returns was grander than its previous instalment, while still retaining many of its iconic dialogues and fan-favourite sequences.

Simmba (2018)

Shetty’s cop universe truly took shape with the release of Simmba, a remake of 2015 Telugu film Temper starring Ranveer Singh as Sangram Bhalerao. Unlike Singham, the protagonist in this film started off as a corrupt cop who colluded with criminals for personal gain. However, a harrowing incident of rape and murder involving a local teacher transformed him into an upstanding officer. A stand-out part of this movie was Ajay Devgn’s narration — and Ranveer Singh adding his own twist to the actor’s dialogues. While Devgn famously said ‘Mai leta nahi sirf deta hoon’ [I don’t take (bribes) I only give (or deliver justice)] in the previous films, Singh reinterpreted it as ‘Mai deta nahi sirf leta hoon’ [I only take (bribes) and don’t give (or deliver justice)] cleverly showcasing the conflicting nature of the two protagonists. In a thrilling climax, Singham saved Simmba’s life and also marked the beginning of this universe’s series of iconic cameos.

Sooryavanshi (2021)

In 2021, Akshay Kumar played Sooryavanshi, an anti-terrorism squad officer in the fourth instalment of Shetty’s cop universe. Drawing inspiration from the 1993 bomb blasts in Mumbai, this film delved into the emotional and psychological toll this profession exacts on the families of police officers through Katrina Kaif’s portrayal of Sooryavanshi’s wife. The film also brought together Kumar, Ajay Devgn as Singham and Ranveer Singh as Simmba in an adrenaline-fuelled shootout scene, a perfect addition to the series.

The highly-anticipated Singham Again will also feature cameos by Simmba and Sooryavanshi, alongside an ensemble cast of Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tiger Shroff and Vicky Kaushal, in what promises to be an explosive cinematic experience.