Set in 1983, the narrative kicks off with a man triumphing in a fighting competition at a local club, earning him the nickname 'Himmatwala', which translates to courageous man. This brave soul, revealed to be Ravi (Ajay Devgn), soon arrives in the village of Ramnagar, which lies under the oppressive rule of a tyrannical landlord called Sher Singh. Upon his arrival, Ravi reunites with his mother, Savitri, and younger sister, Padma, both of whom endure a life filled with hardship.
As the plot unfolds, we learn from Savitri that Ravi's father was a man of integrity and highly respected, who once served as the temple priest. However, Sher Singh framed him for stealing from the temple, having witnessed a murder committed by the landlord himself. Burdened by despair, Ravi's father chooses to end his life. In a quest for vengeance, young Ravi attempts to eliminate Sher Singh but fails. Following this, their home is set ablaze, prompting Savitri to urge Ravi to escape to protect his life from Sher Singh’s wrath.
Once in the city, Ravi vows to seek revenge. His journey takes a turn when he confronts Narayan Das (Paresh Rawal), Sher Singh's manager and brother-in-law, and brutally beats him. In a bold move, he threatens Sher Singh, masquerading as a CBI officer, and acquires the documents of his house. The next day, he publicly humiliates Sher Singh’s daughter, Rekha (Tamanna Bhatia), after witnessing her mistreat her driver. Narayan Das subsequently tries to bribe Ravi but is taken aback upon realizing the truth about his identity.
Seeking revenge on Ravi, Rekha lets loose a tiger in the village, reveling in the ensuing chaos. However, as fortune would have it, when she finds herself in peril with the beast, Ravi heroically intervenes, saving her life and even subduing the tiger. This act of bravery marks the beginning of Rekha’s affection for Ravi. Later, she reciprocates by saving him from the thugs sent by her father to kill him.
Additionally, it becomes clear that Padma is romantically involved with Shakti, Narayan Das's son. Despite both families' opposition, Sher Singh schemes to marry Shakti to Padma, believing it would strengthen their control over Ravi. In a surprising twist, Padma discovers that Ravi is not her biological brother, a revelation that shakes their relationship. Unraveling the connection, Ravi reveals that he was once close friends with the real Ravi, who met with a tragic fate during an accident after learning that his mother and sister were alive.
Padma grapples with this news but ultimately reconciles with Ravi, especially after he protects her from some goons. Following this, Ravi supports Padma and Shakti’s marriage at Shakti's heartfelt request. Unfortunately, once married, both father and son begin to mistreat Padma on Sher Singh's orders, aiming to coerce Ravi into withdrawing from the Sarpanch elections. Enraged yet powerless, Ravi finds an unexpected ally in Rekha, who suggests that he turn the situation to his advantage by leveraging her relationship with her father.
In a surprising twist, Rekha feigns pregnancy with Ravi as the purported father, forcing Sher Singh into a corner, compelling him to request Ravi to marry her. Ravi cleverly turns the tables by making Sher Singh and Shakti perform household chores. Ultimately, he triumphs in the Sarpanch election, ensuring Sher Singh does not contest, and restores the illegally confiscated property documents to the villagers.
However, Shakti learns of the ruse through overheard conversations and aligns with Sher Singh and Narayan Das to summon a group of fighters to assassinate Ravi. Sher Singh publicly disowns Ravi, declaring him an imposter, but Savitri firmly stands by her son, asserting that Ravi is and will always be her son. In a thrilling showdown, Ravi faces off against the group of fighters, barely surviving until the tiger he once battled appears and aids him. Together, they vanquish their foes.
In the climactic moments, Ravi overpowers both Sher Singh and Shakti, poised to end Sher Singh's life until Savitri intervenes. The story concludes with a moment of redemption as Sher Singh, Narayan Das, and Shakti humbly beg for forgiveness from Ravi, Savitri, and the villagers, marking a bittersweet resolution to their tumultuous ordeal.
