Leading them all is Queen Madhavi Devi (Mahie Gill), who pulls off a complex character with such ease and congeniality, leaving you wanting for more, despite her having the lion’s share of the script. Coming in a close second is his highness Aditya Pratap Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill) who does a fine job of balancing the dream of capturing his lost love and glory. As Kabir aka Baba, Sanjay Dutt is not quite the gangster but more of a sophisticated outlaw, who has a heart and a temper that always spells trouble. He is apt for the role, although he looks a tad bit tired and less royal. But while these three have their tasks cut out, the same cannot be said for the other two ladies in the film. Chitrangada Singh as Suhani looks breathtakingly beautiful but barring her introduction scene, does little more than slowing down the pace. Soha Ali Khan as Saheb’s biwi no.2 Ranjana is wasted, literally and figuratively. Rest of the supporting cast – Kabir Bedi, Nafisa Ali and Deepak Tijori are adequately cast as the royal family of Boondigarh.

With so many characters there is often a problem of plenty, but with taut writing and an unpredictable narrative, writers Sanjay Chouhan and Tigmanshu Dhulia manage to stay ahead of the curve. Of course, Dhulia falls prey to usual pitfalls of a forgettable item number and a totally avoidable love song, but what redeems him are the crisp punch-packed dialogues, which are less dramatic and more effective. Overall, with a screenplay that surprises and performances to match, SBG3 successfully takes the legacy forward with minor bumps on the way.