The Family Man 3 is back, and in this pulsating third season, while the character arcs and conflicts might feel a bit like déjà vu, the mix of geopolitical intrigue, Srikant Tiwari’s signature wit, and moral dilemmas make it a guilty pleasure you won't mind bingeing on.
Remember when we first met Srikant Tiwari? A middle-class intelligence officer trying to save the nation while dealing with a chaotic household. When The Family Man first walked into our living rooms in 2019, it was a breath of fresh air. It ditched the usual spy clichés and raised the bar for Indian web series, with Manoj Bajpayee’s brilliant performance anchoring the whole show.
But here is the thing about success—it can become a trap. What felt revolutionary six years ago has now become the "default mode." The very formula that made the show special—humanizing spies and mixing in family drama—is starting to feel a little routine. Spread over seven episodes, it sometimes feels like a recipe: 200 grams of saving the world followed by 150 grams of family arguments.
That said, the stakes are definitely higher this time. The family drama still has its charm, the humor still lands, and Bajpayee continues to be the master conductor leading us through emotional highs and lows. However, there is a strong sense of familiarity in Season 3 that risks making the audience feel like they’ve seen this before.
The Family Man Season 3 (Hindi)
Creators: Raj & DK
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrat Kaur, Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi
Runtime: 7 episodes (50-55 minutes each)
Storyline: When a peace process in the Northeast fails, intelligence agent Srikant Tiwari finds himself wanted by his own agency and hunted by a ruthless new enemy named Rukma.
The Plot: Old Wine, New Bottle?
The writers have picked the Northeast as the new battleground—a popular choice for storytellers lately. After Paatal Lok explored the region, creators Raj & DK recycle the narrative of the central government’s interest in development versus the mistrust of locals who feel neglected. Add in a Chinese angle and a corporate conspiracy trying to create chaos, and you have the setup. It’s not exactly brand new, but the way it is filmed brings a lot of energy and purpose to the conflict.
Things go south when intelligence chief Kulkarni (Dilip Tahil) is assassinated in an ambush. The twist? Suspicion falls on his trusted right-hand man, Srikant Tiwari (Bajpayee). He is the lone survivor of the attack carried out by the moody mercenary Rukma (Jaideep Ahlawat), who was hired by a cartel to disrupt the peace process. When Tiwari fights back, Rukma loses someone close to him, making the battle personal.
Villains and Performances
Pulling the strings is Meera (Nimrat Kaur), a classy but ruthless antagonist. It quickly turns into a game of cat and mouse where the hunter becomes the hunted. Even his own organization is after him, with a new officer, Yash Chawla (Harman Singha), teaming up with Zoya (Shreya Dhanwanthry) to catch Tiwari.
Through all the chaos, Tiwari and JK (Sharib Hashmi) keep their famous banter alive. Manoj Bajpayee knows how to walk a moral tightrope with class. His silence often speaks louder than words, showing the dilemmas of an agent who has lost control.
Jaideep Ahlawat and Nimrat Kaur provide a strong challenge. Nimrat brings a wicked elegance to her villainy, while Jaideep keeps it rustic and dramatic without trying too hard. Together, they make a delicious pair of bad guys. While their character arcs aren't fully developed, their fiery dialogues make the face-off with Tiwari engaging. The action is raw and tactical—thankfully, there is no CGI overload here.
The Family Drama
Between the chases, we get updates on the Tiwari household. Srikant’s double life and his looming divorce from Suchitra (Priyamani) are no longer a secret. His old flame, Saloni (Gul Panag), pops up at just the right moments to stir the pot. Meanwhile, his "woke" daughter Dhriti (Ashlesha Thakur) has new questions, and his son Atharv (Vedant Sinha) is dealing with new bullies and teenage hormones.
The show also tries to stay trendy by touching on issues like Chinese apps, media ethics, and online trolling. The "flavor of the season" is obvious, but The Family Man proves it is still a man for all seasons.
0 Comments