In 2002, Bollywood experienced its own version of the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon, albeit with a historical and patriotic twist. Instead of battling for box office dominance with contrasting themes like "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," three films based on the life of Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh clashed, resulting in a cinematic showdown that captivated the nation. This unusual cinematic event saw the release of three separate biopics: The Legend of Bhagat Singh, 23rd March 1931: Shaheed, and Shaheed-E-Azam.

The Legend of Bhagat Singh, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, featured Ajay Devgn in the titular role. The film chronicled Bhagat Singh's life from his childhood, marked by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to his execution. 23rd March 1931: Shaheed, directed by Guddu Dhanoa, starred Bobby Deol as Bhagat Singh and his brother Sunny Deol as Chandra Shekhar Azad. This film focused on the events leading up to the hanging of Bhagat Singh and his companions. Shaheed-E-Azam, directed by Sukumar Nair, was the third film in this cinematic clash.

All three films were released around the same time, creating a sense of competition and drawing comparisons between the different portrayals of the iconic revolutionary. The Legend of Bhagat Singh was released on June 7, 2002, coinciding with 23rd March 1931: Shaheed.

Despite the anticipation and patriotic fervor surrounding these projects, none of the Bhagat Singh biopics managed to achieve significant box office success. The Legend of Bhagat Singh, made on a budget of ₹20 crore, grossed ₹12.9 crore. 23rd March 1931: Shaheed collected ₹14.25 crore. According to Business Line, the simultaneous release of two Bhagat Singh films negatively impacted the business of both. The producer of The Legend of Bhagat Singh also stated that the release of Shaheed-E-Azam the week before contributed to his film's failure.

Despite its underperformance at the box office, The Legend of Bhagat Singh received generally positive reviews and won two National Film Awards, including Best Actor for Ajay Devgn. It also won three Filmfare Awards.

The simultaneous release of three films on the same subject is a rare occurrence in Bollywood, and the "Bhagat Singh vs. Bhagat Singh vs. Bhagat Singh" clash of 2002 remains a notable example of how even films based on patriotic themes can fall victim to poor timing and internal competition.