In the world of Hindi cinema, 'Tum is vardi ki taaqat ko nahi pehchante' (Don't underestimate the power of this uniform) is a police officer's constant refrain.

In portraying society's caretakers, cinematic liberty has always been in full force. Some films depict them as heroes while others show them in poor light. Some are the last word in corruption, whereas others are shown as bumbling idiots. Some are drunk on duty, while others are sadistic cads.

Did you know that character artist Jagdish Raj earned a name in the Guinness Book of World Records for playing a cop in the maximum number of films?

Recently, Mumbai police commissioner Mahesh Narayan Singh expressed his displeasure at the manner in which cops are projected in films.

What better occasion than a small glimpse into the portrayal of policemen in Hindi films?