At its core, Mard No. 1 tells a timeless story of a righteous man standing up against localized tyranny, systemic corruption, and oppression in rural India. Manoj Tiwari, who was already a household name due to his legendary musical career and his monumental role in revitalizing Bhojpuri cinema with Sasura Bada Paisawala (2003), was presented in an entirely new avatar.
The biggest draw of Mard No. 1 was its lead actor, the Bhojpuri megastar Manoj Tiwari. At the peak of his powers in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Tiwari was a phenomenon in the Bhojpuri film industry, often compared to the Tamil superstar Rajinikanth for his mass appeal and stylized action. His presence in a film was a virtual guarantee of box office success, and he commanded a fee of Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 60 lakh, underscoring his superstar status. As the film's producer put it, Tiwari's action avatar was the main attraction of the film.