23rd March 1931: Shaheed (2002) A biographical historical drama directed by Guddu Dhanoa that chronicles the life and martyrdom of the Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh, the film reconstructs the events leading to the execution of Bhagat Singh and his fellow revolutionaries, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, on 23 March 1931. Bobby Deol portrays Bhagat Singh, while Sunny Deol plays Chandra Shekhar Azad. The supporting cast includes Amrita Singh as Vidyavati Kaur Sandhu, Bhagat Singh's mother, alongside Rahul Dev, Vicky Ahuja, Vivek Shauq, and Raja Bundela. Aishwarya Rai appears in a special role as Mannewali.

Released simultaneously with The Legend of Bhagat Singh, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the film faced intense competition at the box office. The simultaneous release of multiple films centred on Bhagat Singh significantly affected the commercial performance of both productions.

Set in the mid-1920s during British colonial rule, the narrative follows Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Sukhdev, and Rajguru as they dedicate themselves to India's struggle for independence. The turning point in the story occurs after the brutal assault and subsequent death of Lala Lajpat Rai at the hands of the colonial police. Motivated by a desire for justice, Bhagat Singh and his associates assassinate a British official believed to be responsible. Their subsequent arrest leads to imprisonment and severe torture. During their trial, the revolutionaries openly accept responsibility for their actions, asserting that their deeds were committed in the service of India's freedom. Rejecting their justification, the colonial judiciary sentences them to imprisonment and, eventually, to death on charges of treason and assassination. One of the film's most poignant moments depicts Bhagat Singh, bound in chains, meeting his mother in prison and expressing his conviction that India's struggle for true freedom would continue beyond political independence.

The soundtrack, composed by Anand Raaj Anand with lyrics by Dev Kohli, reinforces the film's nationalist ethos through patriotic compositions such as Mera Rang De Basanti Chola, Deshnu Challo, and Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna. These songs are performed by prominent singers including Hans Raj Hans, Alka Yagnik, Veer Rajinder, Bhupinder Singh, Mohammed Salamat, Vinod Rathod, and Udit Narayan, and serve to amplify the emotional and ideological resonance of the narrative.

Despite its patriotic appeal and ensemble cast, 23rd March 1931: Shaheed underperformed commercially, earning approximately ₹14.25 crore during its theatrical run. Critics largely attributed its disappointing box-office performance to the simultaneous release of The Legend of Bhagat Singh and the earlier release of Shaheed-E-Azam (2002), arguing that the competing portrayals of Bhagat Singh fragmented audiences and diminished the commercial prospects of all three films.