The film stars Kamal Haasan in dual roles, alongside Manisha Koirala, Urmila Matondkar, Sukanya, Manorama, Goundamani, Senthil, Nedumudi Venu, Kasthuri, Nizhalgal Ravi and Ajay Rathnam.

A series of killings takes place at Avadi in the same pattern within a few months; stabbing by a knife and the victim becoming paralysed before dying.

The Chennai Police Department in liaison with the CBI form a joint team led by Krishnaswamy to nab the killer.

Chandrabose "Chandru", a small-time broker stationed outside the Regional Transport Office at Chennai, and his assistant Subbaiah aid people in bribing the right officials inside the RTO in getting permits and licenses.

At the same time Chandru's girlfriend Aishwarya, an animal rights activist, also comes into conflict with Sapna, the daughter of Secretary of Transportation.

Krishnaswamy manages to trace his way to Senapathy's house, posing as a freedom fighter eligible for Swathantra Sainik Samman Pension Scheme.

They had fallen out due to Senapathy's excessive insistence on honesty and righteousness, which Chandru considers irrelevant in present day.

A chase culminates, where Senapathy mournfully kills Chandru and apparently dies in an explosion involving an aeroplane and a jeep.

Soon after the release of Gentleman (1993), Shankar narrated a script titled Periya Manushan to actor Rajinikanth, but the pair did not end up collaborating.

The producers wanted Radhika to play the pair of the older Kamal Haasan in the film, but her television commitments meant that she was unable to sign a contract.

Bollywood actress Urmila Matondkar was signed to play another leading role after the producers were impressed with her performance and the success of her 1995 Hindi film, Rangeela.

[7] Malayalam character actor Nedumudi Venu signed on to play the role of CBI officer Krishnaswamy at Haasan's recommendation,[8] while Nassar dubbed his voice.

[7] The film's unit was given strict orders to maintain privacy, with Hindi actor Jackie Shroff being notably turned away from visiting the shooting spot.

[17] Graphic designer Venky noted that Indian was his most difficult project to date (in 1997) with a scene constructed to feature Kamal Haasan's character alongside Subhas Chandra Bose.

[20][21] The music video for "Akadanu Naanga" directed by Padam Kumar and choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, cost ₹1.5 crore.

[30] Nirupama Subramanian from India Today praised Shankar's script, noting that "with the right mix of pop patriotism, anti-establishment diatribes and other commercial cinema ingredients, Shankar's latest creation has south India applauding" before adding that "the real triumph of the film is the effective make-over that believably transforms the actors".

[32] The Hindu wrote, "Shankar establishes himself as one who thinks big and executes what his mind has conceived in a lavish style on the screen be it the dance sequences or action and thrills the Tamil viewers have not witnessed before".

[43] In 2008, Shankar planned on a crossover film featuring characters from Indian, Nayak: The Real Hero (2001) and Sivaji: The Boss (2007), but dropped the idea due to lack of encouragement from his assistant directors.