23rd March 1931: Shaheed(2002)
23rd March 1931: Shaheed is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language biographical historical drama directed by Guddu Dhanoa. The film stars Bobby Deol as Bhagat Singh, Sunny Deol as Chandra Shekhar Azad, and Amrita Singh as Vidyavati Kaur Sandhu. It depicts the life of revolutionary Bhagat Singh and his companions Rajguru and Sukhdev, from their mentor Lala Lajpat Rai's death to their execution on 23 March 1931. The film features a special appearance by Aishwarya Rai as Mannewali. It was released alongside Rajkumar Santoshi's The Legend of Bhagat Singh, and both films underperformed at the box office, collecting ₹14.25 crore. The movie is notable for its patriotic songs including 'Mera Rang De Basanti Chola' and 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna'.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 2002
- Director
- Guddu Dhanoa
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 36m
- Rating
- 5.4/10
Storyline
When British police beat his mentor Lala Lajpat Rai to death, young revolutionary Bhagat Singh vows revenge. He teams up with Chandra Shekhar Azad, Sukhdev, and Rajguru to kill the responsible officer. After succeeding, Bhagat Singh is arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death. The film follows his journey from a fiery youth to a martyr who smiles at the gallows.
“A sacrifice that changed a nation.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for 23rd March 1931: Shaheed
Cast reunions in this film: Shakti Kapoor & Suresh Oberoi (10 films together), Sunny Deol & Bobby Deol (8 films together), Shakti Kapoor & Sunny Deol (5 films together), Sachin Khedekar & Sunny Deol (4 films together), Shakti Kapoor & Bobby Deol (4 films together), and Sunny Deol & Guddu Dhanoa (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title refers to the exact date Bhagat Singh was executed by the British.
- Actor Bobby Deol, who played Bhagat Singh, reportedly did not cut his hair for a year to get the right look.
- The movie was shot in just 45 days, which is a very short schedule for a historical drama.
- It was released on the same day as another major film, 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge!', featuring Hrithik Roshan.
- The director, Guddu Dhanoa, is better known for directing action and romantic films, not historical biopics.
- A real courtroom in Mumbai was used to film the trial scenes for a more authentic feel.
- The film did not perform well at the box office, despite the popular subject of Bhagat Singh.