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Actor Anil Kapoor on Monday marked 25 years of Nayak: The Real Hero, reflecting on the political drama’s enduring relevance and the values behind his iconic character, Shivaji Rao.
To commemorate the anniversary, Kapoor shared a video montage featuring memorable scenes from the 2001 film. He said what attracted him to Shivaji Rao was not simply the character’s transformation from an ordinary man into a chief minister, but how he chose to use his power after assuming office.
“25 years of Nayak. What drew me to Shivaji Rao was never just the journey from a common man to the Chief Minister. It was what he chose to do once he got there, to use the power he had to make a difference to the people,” Kapoor wrote.
He described playing a character driven by such a strong sense of purpose as a privilege and said this may be one reason the film continues to resonate with audiences decades after its release.
Kapoor also highlighted the film’s message of public service and patriotism, saying the desire to improve people’s lives would never become irrelevant.
Directed by S. Shankar, Nayak follows Shivaji Rao, a television journalist played by Kapoor, who challenges Maharashtra Chief Minister Balraj Chauhan, portrayed by Amrish Puri, over corruption and administrative failures during a live interview.
The chief minister then challenges Shivaji to serve as chief minister for a day. Shivaji accepts and uses his brief tenure to take tough measures against corruption, bringing him into conflict with powerful political interests.
The film also stars Rani Mukerji, Paresh Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, Johny Lever, Shivaji Satam and Neena Kulkarni.
Released on September 7, 2001, Nayak was the Hindi remake of Shankar’s Tamil film Mudhalvan. Over the years, it has developed a strong following and remained a reference point in discussions about political cinema, governance and the possibility of change through decisive leadership.
Twenty-five years after its release, Kapoor’s anniversary message has once again brought the film’s themes of accountability, public service and responsible use of power into focus.