Inspired by real-life incidents from Porbandar, director Krrupesh Vayeda’s Hindi feature film Tapas throws light on a lesser-explored side of Gujarat’s underworld. Set in 2017, the crime drama stars Freddy Daruwala as a special officer navigating the challenges of taking on an entrenched criminal network.

Speaking about the film, Vayeda says that authenticity was central to the project. “The narrative is engaging, realistic, and emotionally connected as it delves into a world where crime and political connections thrive. While the story is fictional, it is inspired by the realities of contemporary Gujarat and reflects the efforts of law enforcement agencies to keep crime under control across the state.”

For Freddy, who was last seen in Dharavi Bank, the role marks a departure from the larger-than-life cop archetype.

“Karansinh isn’t a superhero. He makes mistakes, faces setbacks, and evolves through the story. Tapas is close to my heart because it is set in Gujarat, my home state. I finally got the opportunity to play a realistic police officer — a role I always wanted to portray.”