The Family Man Season 3 Review: Manoj Bajpayee Impresses as Jaideep Ahlawat Adds Chilling Precision to a Taut Thriller

Prime Video’s The Family Man returns with its third season, steering the story toward the misty, tense landscapes of India’s Northeast. Directed by Raj & DK, Tusshar Seyth, and Suman Kumar, the new season stars Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nimrat Kaur, Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, and Shreya Dhanwanthary.

A New Shift in Tone and Terrain

Season 3 marks a major thematic pivot: for the first time, Shrikant Tiwari—the hunter—becomes the hunted. This reversal gives the series new momentum. The narrative occasionally edges into dramatic exaggeration, but the storytelling remains sharp, confident, and controlled.

The action now unfolds in the layered, rain-washed hills of the Northeast, giving the season a quieter yet more atmospheric backdrop. Shrikant and JK’s familiar rhythm remains intact, while the emotional distance between Shrikant and Suchitra lingers, adding depth to the family dynamic. With older children, internal reshuffling inside TASC, and a heightened geopolitical threat, Season 3 feels refreshed without losing its core identity.

A Region on Edge: From Peace to Chaos

The story opens in Kohima, Nagaland, where a sudden bomb blast shatters the calm. The government fast-tracks Project Sahakar—a defence-development initiative designed to counter China’s Project Guan Yu and rising tensions along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Shrikant and Kulkarni (Dalip Tahil) travel to the region to meet David Khuzou, a local leader trying to unite fragmented rebel groups. But the mission collapses violently. Rukma (Jaideep Ahlawat), a local smuggler, murders Kulkarni and Khuzou, leaving Shrikant gravely injured but alive.

The larger conspiracy unfolds through Meera (Nimrat Kaur), a London-based fixer with global links. Her plan: destabilise the Northeast to accelerate a major weapons deal supported by billionaire Dwarakanath (Jugal Hansraj). Back in Mumbai, Shrikant becomes the prime suspect in Kulkarni’s killing, pushing him into a desperate fight to clear his name.

Cultural Nuance Adds Depth

Season 3 is unique in that it captures a somewhat realistic representation of the Northeast through its curious natives and their own interpretations of how they live and struggle through the hard political background of the territory. Every regional actor adds the final touch to what we see on TV. Even such a prickly theme as the local politics is given particular treatment, thanks to the narrative layers woven into the multicourage, multi-layered, and historically sacrosant scene. The script reeks enough of real events to lend credibility while, for good effect, adding more details on the ban on Chinese apps and border tensions.

The script seems to require an alert viewer since there is so much intruding of many factions, alliances, and ongoing power equations that in places it may start to read inconsistent with ongoing tracks but add to the bigger picture.

Performances: Ahlawat and Nimrat Kaur Elevate the Threat

• Manoj Bajpayee continues to anchor the series with effortless honesty. His transformation—from weary parent to a man suddenly under suspicion—feels instinctive and deeply human. His scenes with his children are tender, while the quiet panic of being targeted by the system is portrayed with subtle gestures rather than unnecessary drama.
• Priyamani’s Suchitra remains strong and composed, especially during a heated TV debate that becomes one of her standout moments this season.
• Sharib Hashmi’s JK once again provides warmth and humour without breaking the show’s tension.
• But the season’s real edge comes from the antagonists.
• Jaideep Ahlawat’s Rukma is cold, unsettling, and completely unpredictable. His stillness is unnerving.
• Nimrat Kaur matches that intensity with a composed, calculating performance. Their phone confrontation is one of the season’s sharpest scenes.

A Confident, Engaging Season With Room for More

Like previous seasons, a few moments stretch believability, but the pacing is tight enough that nothing feels distracting. The Northeast setting adds new energy and visual identity. The writing continues to balance personal stakes, professional pressure, and national crisis without melodrama.

By its final episodes, The Family Man Season 3 feels assured, immersive, and true to its characters. It leaves just enough threads unresolved to make viewers curious about what lies ahead for Shrikant Tiwari.

Rating: ★★★½ / 5