Plot

The story of Paan Singh Tomar, an Indian athlete and seven-time national steeplechase champion who becomes one of the most feared dacoits in Chambal Valley after his retirement.

Paan Singh Tomar is a Hindi-language film, based on the true story of a runner employed by the Army and has won Gold medal at Indian National Games but forced to become notorious baaghi. It is directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia.—Anonymous

A reporter interviews Paan Singh Tomar (Irrfan Khan), a robber who is in the news for killing 9 people of a community. Answering questions about himself, the story goes in a flashback in year 1950. Paan Singh works in the Army while his wife and mother live in Morena. He surprises his seniors in the Army with his athletic skills. Though he was not interested in sports, he joins the sports division because there were no limits on their diet. Picked for the 5000 meters race's training, he was persuaded to run for the 3000-meter steeplechase by his coach. This was because the coach's daughter was married to the current 5000m champion & the coach was afraid that Paan Singh will defeat him & the champion will take it out on the coach's daughter. Paan Singh obliges by accepting coach's request.

Paan Singh participates in the Indian National Games and wins the gold medal in the steeplechase event 7 years in a row. In 1958 he participates in the Asian Games at Tokyo but couldn't win because of his inability to adjust with the track spikes only given to him in the final event. He felt frustrated when he was not allowed to go the borders to fight in the 1962 and 1965 wars because sportsmen were not allowed to fight in them. In 1967, he participated in the International Military Games and wins the gold medal in the steeplechase.

His elder brother from his native place visits him and talks about an illegal land acquisition of his ancestral property by Bhanwar Singh, his relative. Paan Singh retires from the Army to settle his family disputes, despite being offered a position as the coach in the army. On arriving home, he tries to resolve the issue with Bhanwar Singh. He seeks help from the District Collector and local police station, but no help is provided. His son gets beaten badly by Bhanwar Singh and his goons. Paan Singh then orders his son to rejoin army and stay away from the dispute.

Bhanwar Singh and his goons try to kill Paan Singh and family, when Paan Singh is at the police station, trying to get the police to take action against Bhanwar for beating up his son. His family manages to escape but his mother gets killed brutally. Paan Singh decides to avenge his mother's death. He becomes a Baaghi (Robber) who wreaks havoc in the Chambal Valley. He forms a gang and continues to add new members. He starts kidnapping people for financial support & builds his forces & arms. He uses police uniforms and police vehicles to escape scrutiny across 3 states MP, UP & Rajasthan. He soon becomes notorious in the Chambal Valley area. After gaining enough power and money, he murders Bhanwar Singh and his goons.

One day, Paan Singh and his gang stay in a village. The village Sarpanch appears to be Paan Singh's friend but informs police about Paan Singh's gang behind his back. The police attack the compound where Paan Singh is staying. Paan Singh manages to escape, but his elder brother is killed. To avenge his brother's death, he kills the Sarpanch and 8 other people. The interview with the reporter ends here and the interview is published in the newspaper and causes a sensation.

The police continued in their search for Paan Singh Tomar, who decides to lie low for a while. He meets his family and his coach in the army who request that he surrenders. Paan Singh refuses to surrender on the principle that while he was a sportsman holding a national record, nobody came to help him with his problems, and the moment he turned a rebel, everyone wants him to be arrested.

When the gang reconvenes after a month's hiatus, one of the members who had turned a police informer betrays the gang and gives them away to the police. A shootout ensues where all members of the gang, including Paan Singh are killed.