Released on May 1, 2025, Hit 3 is the latest installment in the HIT franchise, directed by Sailesh Kolanu and starring Nani in a starkly different role. This film moves away from the earlier entries' investigative tone, embracing intense violence and stylized action scenes that raise the stakes. Nani plays Arjun Sarkaar, a cop with a tougher edge, navigating a darker, more brutal world.

In this review, we’ll break down the movie’s plot, Nani’s performance, the technical work behind the scenes, and how audiences have reacted. Whether you’re curious about the shift in style or want to know if Hit 3 lives up to expectations, this post covers what worked—and what didn’t—in this bold new chapter.

Plot and Narrative Structure

Hit 3 balances a crime thriller core with bursts of intense action, but the storytelling and plot unfold unevenly across its runtime. The film’s narrative combines a complex mystery with a stylized portrayal of violence, aiming to keep viewers hooked while exploring deeper themes. Here’s a closer look at how the movie handles its themes, character depth, pacing, and storytelling style.

Exploration of Themes and Character Depth

At the heart of Hit 3 lies a web of themes that challenge traditional roles of good and evil. The story threads through moral ambiguity, with Arjun Sarkar often blurring the lines between law enforcer and judge, jury, and executioner. This theme surfaces clearly in how he deals with criminals — not by legal procedure but by a raw, sometimes brutal form of justice. The film also taps into the midlife crisis of Arjun, portraying his internal struggles alongside the murky world he inhabits.

Nani’s portrayal of Arjun Sarkar is a significant departure from his usual roles. Known for his likable, relatable characters, here Nani steps into darker territory. His Arjun is aggressive and rough around the edges, a character whose rage and relentless pursuit reveal a harsher, more intense side. This shift adds layers to the character, giving him a complexity that fits the movie’s somber and gritty tone. Unlike his previous empathetic and softer performances, Arjun’s depth here lies in his contradictions — vulnerable and violent, righteous and ruthless.

Themes like law enforcement versus criminality unfold not just in the crimes Arjun investigates but through his own behavior. The film questions whether justice can be served by a system that sometimes seems broken or whether the protagonist’s extreme methods are justified. These ideas run throughout the film, giving it a stronger conceptual base beneath its action-packed surface.

Pacing and Storytelling Effectiveness

The film's pacing is a mixed bag. The first half moves with a steady rhythm, gradually building suspense around the central mystery involving organ trafficking linked to the CTK website. However, the second half struggles to maintain that momentum. Areas that demand narrative clarity often take a backseat to prolonged, stylized violence sequences that feel more like action showpieces than storytelling devices.

This shift affects the flow — a puzzle that started sharp and intriguing grows more chaotic and heavy-handed. The uneven pacing can pull viewers out of the investigation and weaken emotional investment. It feels as though the movie sacrifices the sharpness of detective work for spectacle, trading in critical plot progression for adrenaline-filled moments.

The stylized action sequences, inspired by Hollywood and Korean films, create intense visual experiences but sometimes disrupt the narrative coherence. While action fans will appreciate these sequences, they clash with the investigative tone and make the story feel disjointed. Instead of building suspense through clues and character interactions, the film often relies on violence to carry emotional weight.

Ultimately, this approach affects engagement. The film tries to balance suspense with spectacle, but the scales tip toward the latter in the second half. If you enjoy high-octane, brutal fights, Hit 3 delivers. However, viewers looking for a tight, investigative thriller may find parts dragging or losing focus.

This mix causes the narrative to oscillate between moments where you're drawn into the mystery and others where you’re reminded you’re watching a stylized action film, not a straightforward crime drama. The result is a storytelling style that appeals to some but will feel uneven to others.

In essence, Hit 3 takes risks by mixing deep themes with flashy action. Nani’s Arjun Sarkar embodies the film’s moral complexity, while the plot wrestles with pacing and focus—sometimes winning, sometimes faltering under the weight of its ambition.

Performances and Character Analysis

Hit 3 leans heavily on its lead, Nani, as Arjun Sarkaar—a character quite unlike his past roles. The movie tries to balance gritty action with emotional beats, but it’s the performances that either hold your attention or pull you out of the story. The film also brings back some familiar faces from earlier installments, though their screen time is noticeably brief. Let’s unpack how these character choices shape the film’s impact.

Character Dynamics and Screen Presence

Nani’s transformation into a hard-edged, mass-hero cop is the film’s cornerstone. He steps away from his usual gentle, everyman persona and delivers an intense, sometimes raw performance. His presence dominates the screen, bringing a physicality and relentless energy that fit a darker, bloodier narrative. Whether in brutal action scenes or tense emotional moments, Nani commands attention with a sharp, aggressive style.

Supporting characters like Srinidhi Shetty’s Mrudula add some balance but don’t get enough space to grow. Srinidhi’s portrayal offers brief glimpses of warmth and normalcy, yet her character often feels sidelined, lacking development or meaningful interaction with Arjun. Komalee Prasad, appearing in a smaller role, similarly doesn’t leave a strong impression due to limited screen time and narrative focus.

The recurring faces from the previous HIT films make cameo-like appearances but mostly serve as background figures rather than fully fleshed-out parts of the story. This approach may please fans familiar with the franchise, but it also underlines a missed opportunity. More time spent developing these connections could have deepened the story’s emotional weight.

The antagonist, played by Prateik Babbar, struggles to cut a convincing figure. His character lacks the menace and complexity needed to make the conflict feel personal or urgent. Instead, he comes across as underwritten and somewhat generic— a sharp contrast to Nani’s nuanced, intense screen presence. This weak antagonist dimension lessens the story’s tension and stakes.

In summary, the film hinges on Nani’s powerful central role. The supporting cast contributes what they can but mainly fades into the background due to limited focus and shallow writing. Returning characters feel more like nods to the franchise than essential parts of this story. The character development here can tip either way—it supports the film’s dark, violent tone but sometimes sacrifices emotional depth for style and spectacle.