Saagwan: Supercop Himanshu Singh Rajawat takes on superstition in a bold film

By Shantiswaroop Tripathi

The sandy land of Rajasthan and the Aravalli hills have always narrated tales of bravery. While political heat around the Aravalli region is currently at its peak, on the other hand, a powerful new voice is emerging from the teak (saagwan) forests of Mewar. Udaipur-based police officer Himanshu Singh Rajawat is bringing this voice to the screen through his Rajasthani film “Saagwan”, which has already created a stir even in Bollywood corridors.

In the film, real-life “supercop” from Udaipur, Himanshu Singh Rajawat, appears as the lead actor. With his powerful screen presence, he is set to prove that Rajasthani talent is second to none and does not need validation from anyone.

The film “Saagwan” has not been shot across Rajasthan merely to cash in on the state’s scenic beauty. Rather, the very soul of the story lies in the soil of Rajasthan. Yes, the film is based on a true murder mystery from 2019 that shook the entire system.

Exposing fake godmen and self-styled leaders who spill innocent blood in the name of “curses” and “traditions,” the trailer of “Saagwan” has already gone viral. The trailer opens with spine-chilling visuals—dense forests, the dark world of black magic, and a helpless innocent life in danger. Himanshu Rajawat’s police avatar and his powerful dialogue—
“These Kaliyugi leaders who dig pits for others eventually fall into them themselves”—clearly establish the film as a strong battle against superstition.

Producer Prakash Menaria says about the film, “Most of the shooting of this film has been done in and around Pratapgarh. It is inspired by a real incident that occurred in the dense forests of southern Rajasthan. The story revolves around a police officer who struggles to expose the truth of a society trapped in superstition and regressive practices. Our aim through this film is to spread awareness against blind faith, false beliefs, and practices like black magic. The film shows how humanity is strangled under the guise of tantra-mantra. We have not made this film to target any community or tradition, but to attack a mental illness that turns humans into beasts. Such incidents are happening around us, and it is time we wake up.”

He further adds, “This film is not based on a fictional world but is inspired by real social incidents. It teaches us that while faith and belief can give us strength, superstition weakens us. Police officer Himanshu Singh Rajawat and his entire team have held up a mirror to society through this film, in which a ray of hope is clearly visible.”

Actor and real-life courageous police officer CI Himanshu Singh Rajawat, who plays the lead role, says, “The idea for this film came to us during police duty while handling a complex case in Pratapgarh. I was personally involved in that investigation, and it took several months to solve. This film tells the story of innocent and simple people living in remote forests who, due to lack of education, still fall prey to superstition. ‘Saagwan’ is an attempt to hold the hands of those who have lost their way in the darkness of ignorance. This film is not meant to scare, but to awaken people and encourage them to support one another.”

Himanshu Singh Rajawat has not only acted in the film but has also written the story and dialogues, besides directing it. He further says,
“Our film ‘Saagwan’ is a clean and wholesome film. There is no violence, noise, or vulgarity in it. Without any abusive language or obscenity, it tells a serious story that can be watched proudly with parents and children—by the entire family. This film is the essence of my hundreds of experiences as a police officer, where I have seen humanity surrender before blind faith.”

The music of “Saagwan” has been composed by Aikarth Purohit and Kapil Paliwal. Along with Himanshu Singh Rajawat, the film features strong performances by Sayaji Shinde, Milind Gunaji, Ahsaan Khan, and Rashmi Mishra.