Nayak: The Real Hero

Nayak: The Real Hero
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	S. Shankar
Written by	S. Shankar
Dialogues by	Anurag Kashyap
Based on	Mudhalvan by S. Shankar
Produced by	A. M. Rathnam
Starring	Anil Kapoor Rani Mukerji Amrish Puri Paresh Rawal
Cinematography	K. V. Anand
Edited by	B. Lenin V. T. Vijayan
Music by	A. R. Rahman
Production company	Sri Surya Movies
Release date	7 September 2001 (2001-09-07)
Running time	187 minutes[1]
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	₹21 crore[2]
Box office	₹20.56 crore[2]

Nayak: The Real Hero (/nɑːjək/ transl. Hero) is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language political action film co-written and directed by S. Shankar and produced by A. M. Rathnam under the Sri Surya Movies banner. The film stars Anil Kapoor, with Rani Mukerji, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, and Johnny Lever playing supporting roles. A remake of Shankar's 1999 Tamil-language film Mudhalvan, it focuses on Shivaji Rao Gaekwad (Kapoor), a television cameraman and, later, television presenter, who accidentally hears and records a conversation between the police and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Balraj Chauhan. While interviewing Chauhan about the issues, Shivaji is challenged to take over the chief minister's job for a day.

Nayak was announced in June 2000 and marked the first Hindi-language directorial venture of Shankar. The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics that were written by Anand Bakshi. Filming was done by K. V. Anand, taking place in more than 100 locations across India. The film was released on 7 September 2001. A commercial failure, it grossed ₹20.56 crore (US$2.5 million) at the box office against the total production and marketing cost of ₹21 crore (US$2.5 million). It was opened to mixed reviews from critics, some of whom applauded the storyline, the performances (particularly Kapoor, Puri and Rawal), Shankar's direction and the movie's themes and social message but criticised its lengthy duration, editing, pace and special effects.