The challenge to a popular movie franchise like Dabangg is that it requires novelty and sameness in equal parts and the team does get its balance right.

‘Dabangg 3’ is Hindi action cinema at its daftest…

Dabangg 3 is Chulbul Pandey’s original story that led him to become the Robin Hood cop. With some loopholes and a little flawed writing, Dabangg 3 does leave you feeling a bit lost in a time when content-driven films are the trick of the trade. But it’s a complete entertainer and has a good dose of the Salman Khan love and swag.

For most of Salman Khan fans, his film is a euphoria. It’s about a god-like fandom which defies the logic and deductions enumerated in the four-column reviews of the critics. The third installment of Dabangg series begets the question: Can you sustain and gain from the tactic for far too long? Irrespective of what any critic would tell you, there can hardly be a doubt that there is nothing that can stop a Salman Khan film at the box office. However, wise people say, never say never!

Dabangg 3 is for every single of Salman Khan fan out there. It might stop intriguing you at places but carries Chulbul’s swag throughout. Sudeep is the bad-guy to look forward to.

Dabangg 3 isn’t funny or even campy enough to be anything more than an aging hero’s throw of dice, hoping that third time will be as lucky as the first two.

The drab storyline scrapes the bottom of the genre barrel despite an impressive performance from Kichcha Sudeep.

Salman’s flamboyance as Chulbul the supercop, however, fails to hide the fact that you are essentially paying to watch the same film for the third time. Hardcore fans may not complain, because Chulbul Pandey’s world is still woven around their hero.

Bite this bullet only if you are fanatical about Khan and he can do no wrong in your eyes. For those who don’t wear those starry blinkers, sit this one out.

Somewhere in the middle of Dabangg 3, Rajjo tells Chulbul that she will never again force him to take a ’70s-’80s style kasam (oath). Never mind the context. I do wish Bollywood would take a kasam here and now to lay Chulbul Pandey a.k.a. Robinhood Pandey to rest.

A Tired, Overlong Potboiler That Suffers From Lack Of Surprise

Some films are experiences, and therefore, shouldn’t be restricted with star ratings, or discussions about the film’s merit. A Salman Khan film, in this context, is a rollercoaster ride. You buy a ticket, stand in line, take your seat, buckle yourself up, and pray to the almighty that you don’t puke on thy neighbour.

Dabangg 3 is the kind of indulgent rubbish that dispels the fundamentals of film-making to highlight its hero’s virtue and vigour at any cost…

Almost ten years down the line, the Chulbul Pandey franchise is feeling weak and worn out.

Dabangg 3, which has a long back-story of how Chulbul came to be called Chulbul, is not just a dreary mish-mash of the previous ones; it’s also a cringe-fest.

Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Saiee Manjrekar bring another instalment to the already over-crowded franchise. There’s frantic action scenes to give you headaches and nasty jokes to make you nauseous. Keep drugs handy.

When you step into Dabangg 3, you know you’re in for a Salman Khan extravaganza.  Which would be fine if there was some attempt to tweak the formula or push it into a new direction.  But sadly, the makers seem content to deliver another dose of the same.  But it’s been 9 years.  Even the mighty Chulbul needs an upgrade.

‘Dabangg 3’ shows Salman in his element – throwing deadly blows at the villains amidst all the smoke, dust and fire, while you can hear chants of Hudd Hudd Dabangg in the background. And those certainly will be paisa-vasool moments for Salman Khan’s fans.