Film

Sarkar 3

Sarkar 3 is a crime drama following an aging mafia patriarch and his conflicted grandson navigating power, loyalty, and betrayal in Maharashtra's criminal underworld. Amitabh Bachchan commands the screen with gravitas, but the film struggles with pacing and a convoluted plot that tests patience. It's for those invested in the Sarkar saga or Bachchan's later-career work.

TMDb rating2.6

If you liked this

Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 12012

An epic crime saga spanning decades, with raw performances and genuine stakes. Anurag Kashyap crafts a grimy, addictive story of rival gangs that feels lived-in and dangerous in ways Sarkar 3 aspires to.

But Nearly six hours across two films, with a non-linear narrative and regional dialect that demands active attention. Unrelentingly brutal.

Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 poster

Natrang2010

Meditative character study of an aging theater performer confronting mortality and irrelevance. Sachin Khedekar's performance rivals Bachchan's best—quietly devastating, with real emotional weight.

But Slow-paced and introspective, with minimal plot. Theatrical staging may feel mannered to those wanting conventional drama.

Natrang poster

Khakee2004

A heist film with an ensemble cast that actually justifies its runtime. Smart, tautly constructed, with several standout performances including Amitabh Bachchan at his charismatic best.

But Some '00s Bollywood theatrical moments land awkwardly. Nearly three hours, though it moves better than Sarkar 3 does.

Khakee poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Sarkar 3

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Vada Chennai2018

Both follow patriarchal crime figures navigating legacy and succession, but Vada Chennai treats mythology and morality with Shakespearean weight. Where Sarkar 3 plots convolution, Vada Chennai builds inevitability.

A Tamil-language crime saga that feels operatic and mythic in ways Hindi cinema rarely attempts. Dhanush anchors it with quiet intensity; Vetrimaaran's direction is hypnotic and violent without spectacle.

But Tamil with subtitles; unfamiliar cultural and regional context. Slow first half and nearly three hours of deliberately paced storytelling. Not Bollywood accessibility.

Vada Chennai poster
More like this (8)

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust2001

Underrated crime thriller about a gangster's rise, with Ram Gopal Varma's visual style at its peak. Compact, stylish, and genuinely tense where it counts.

But Lower production values than big-budget crime films. Second half loses some momentum from the first.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust poster

Policegiri2013

A smart take on Mumbai's police-criminal nexus with solid performances. Lighter in tone than Sarkar 3 but more intelligent about systems and corruption.

But Doesn't quite sustain its premise across two hours. Some plotting strains credibility.

Policegiri poster

Special 262013

Clever heist film with genuine twists and a protagonist you root for despite—or because of—his criminality. Akshay Kumar plays against type effectively.

But Plot hinges on contrivances in the third act. Lighter in tone, so if you want serious gravitas, you won't find it here.

Special 26 poster

Raees2017

Shah Rukh Khan as a bootlegger building an empire in Gujarat. Grounded crime drama with propulsive storytelling and characters who feel like actual people with stakes.

But A few melodramatic sequences feel out of place. Not as intricate as the best in the genre.

Raees poster

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai2010

Stylish, romantic take on Mumbai's underworld in the '80s. Emraan Hashmi and Ajay Devgn have genuine chemistry, and the period detail is lovingly rendered.

But Prioritizes style and romance over plot. Some violence feels gratuitous rather than purposeful.

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai poster

Shootout at Lokhandwala2007

Based on a real incident, this police procedural has documentary-like urgency. Multiple perspectives, and the ensemble cast keeps energy high.

But Dated action direction and some overwrought emotional beats. Feels more like a TV movie in scope.

Shootout at Lokhandwala poster

Kaminey2009

Both explore brotherhood and betrayal within crime dynasties, but Kaminey uses genre excitement where Sarkar 3 reaches for gravitas. Here, momentum matters more than mythology.

A stylish, propulsive thriller about two identical twins—one a pacifist, one a criminal—caught between warring gangsters. Vishal Bhardwaj's direction is kinetic; the premise generates genuine suspense.

But Tone shifts between thriller and dark comedy can feel uneven. Relies on coincidence more than you'd like. Might feel silly on a rewatch.

Kaminey poster

Ugly2013

Both feature powerful older men wielding influence, but Ugly strips away glamour entirely. Where Sarkar 3 mythologizes the patriarch, Ugly reveals the rot beneath power. The film is a direct rebuke to everything Sarkar 3 assumes.

Anurag Kashyap's masterpiece: a moral nightmare about a child custody case spiraling into corruption and violence. Visceral, uncompromising, with performances of raw humanity. Crime cinema with genuine stakes and consequences.

But Deliberately ugly to watch—no catharsis, no redemption. Extremely dark subject matter involving a child. Minimal plot, maximum moral dread. Will leave you unsettled.

Ugly poster

People

Cast

Directing

Writing

Production

Recommended by