On This Day - Bhagat Singh's Birth Anniversary: Actors Who Have Played The Indian Freedom Fighter On Screen

The iconic socialist revolutionary has been immortalized on the screen by Bollywood.

"The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation hereafter, but to make the best use of it here below."

An embodiment of courage, valor, and sacrifice, Shaheed Bhagat Singh was a stalwart of the Indian Independence Movement, whose actions induced the spirit of nationalism among Indians. He was a follower of the Marxist ideologies from a very young age and went ahead to stand up against British colonial rule. He, along with freedom fighter Batukeswar Dutt, threw two bombs into the Central Assembly Hall and took the nation by storm.

Born on September 27, 1907, Bhagat Singh (referred to as the Shaheed-e-Azam) is now widely revered as a hero in India. It was Singh who popularized the “Inquilab Zindabad” slogan which still ignites a spark among the revolutionaries.

The great freedom fighter's life has been depicted on the silver screen several times. On the occasion of his birthday, let's have a look at some of the actors who have immortalized him on screen.

Manoj Kumar in 'Shaheed'

Manoj Kumar, also known as Bharat Kumar, is renowned for acting in and making films with patriotic themes. In the 1965 film 'Shaheed', he played the role of Bhagat Sing and left everyone in awe with his top-notch performance. The film is considered one of the most significant projects in Kumar's career.

Ajay Devgn in 'The Legend Of Bhagat Singh'

Ajay Devgn showcased his incredible range as an actor in the 2002 patriotic film 'The Legend Of Bhagat Singh'. He portrayed the freedom fighter with the utmost conviction, leaving a strong impact on the audience. For this performance, he was honored with the National Award for Best Actor.

Sonu Sood in 'Shaheed-E-Azam'

A man with almost no haters, Sonu Sood was the perfect choice to play Bhagat Singh in the 2002 film 'Shaheed-E-Azam'. He depicted the empathetic side of the freedom fighter in a brilliant way, leaving everyone spellbound. While his performance failed to gain much acclaim at the time, it is now getting its due attention on social media.

Bobby Deol in '23rd March 1931: Shaheed'

Bobby Deol stepped into the shoes of the legendary Indian nationalist in the 2002 film '23rd March 1931: Shaheed'. While the film failed at the box office, it went ahead to gain a cult status along the way. Deol's portrayal of Bhagat Singh received mostly positive reviews from the critics.

Notably, the film starred Sunny Deol as Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Siddharth in 'Rang De Basanti'

'Rang De Basanti' is inarguably one of the best films to come out of Bollywood in recent times. Among all the amazing characters in the film, Siddharth's character stands out with its unique dynamics. The actor played Bhagat Singh with the utmost conviction, creating fire on the screen with his performance. As many believe, 'Rang De Basanti' is a milestone in Siddharth's career.

Amol Parashar

Amol Parashar, best known for his role as Chitwan in the TVF road-trip series 'Tripling', has unfortunately been stereotyped as a comic actor. However, thanks to Shoojit Sircar, the actor got the opportunity to play Bhagat Singh in the 2021 film 'Sardar Udham' and showcased his range as an actor. Even with such limited screen time, Parashar managed to leave a strong impact on the audience with his performance.