His Supreme Highness, the Maharajah of Pankot, Zalim Singh was the thirteen-year-old son of Premjit Singh and the prince who ruled over the province of Pankot.
Biography
Singh was secretly controlled by his devious prime minister Chattar Lal who was a member of the Thuggee cult. At the urging of his prime minister, in 1935 Singh hosted the Guardian of Tradition Dinner at the palace to raise the status of Pankot among its neighboring principalities, and many dignitaries and merchants were invited. Several unexpected guests arrived and were also brought to the banquet: Captain Blumburtt and Indiana Jones. At dinner, both of these men discussed the possibility of a Thuggee revival, and Singh spoke up to cover up the Thuggee presence in the palace, insisting to his subjects that his kingdom would never grant asylum to the Thuggee cult.
Singh was responsible for torturing Indiana Jones with a kryta doll of himself while the archaeologist was foiling the chief Thuggee guard. Short Round, who never really liked Singh, stopped the maharaja from doing any further harm, and also freed him from his enslavement by using a torch (just as he had done to free Indy). Grateful to Short Round for liberating him from the Black Sleep of the Kali Ma, but ashamed of himself at the same time, Singh gave directions for escaping the mines to Short Round, and later contacted Captain Blumburtt and his soldiers to help with the liberation of his palace.
Behind the scenes
In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Zalim Singh was played by actor Raj Singh.
Appearances
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom novel
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom comic
- LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (Non-canonical appearance)
- LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Non-canonical appearance)
Sources
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: The Illustrated Screenplay
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Sourcebook
Chattar Lal's Marshall College entry on IndianaJones.com (backup link on Archive.org)
Mola Ram's Marshall College entry on IndianaJones.com (backup link on Archive.org)- Zalim Singh's Marshall College entry on IndianaJones.com (backup link on Archive.org)
- Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide