Before Salman Khan kicked off the Yash Raj Spy Universe with Ek Tha Tiger (and its two sequels that you can watch on Prime Video), the Bollywood star played the vigilante cop Chulbul “Robinhood” Pandey in the Dabangg trilogy.
The Dabangg movies proved Khan’s endurance in Bollywood as a leading man and action hero while also giving the spotlight on Sonakshi Sinha who plays his on-screen romantic interest Rajjo Pandey and made her cinematic debut with the first film.
Apart from Khan and Sinha, the franchise also offered a pedestal to other actors, especially the ones playing the villains from Sonu Sood in Dabangg to multi-lingual character actor Prakash Raj in Dabangg 2 and Kannada superstar Sudeep in Dabangg 3. While Abhinav Kashyap marked his writing and directing debut with Dabangg, the leading man’s brother Arbaaz Khan took the directing reins for the second movie. The third one was handled by choreographer and director Prabhu Deva who had collaborated many times with Khan and Sinha before.
Here’s a guide on how and where to stream the Dabangg movies in order.
How to watch the Dabangg movies in chronological order?
The Dabangg trilogy is pretty straightforward with all three movies released one after the other. So, you can watch the Dabangg movies just in the order of their release dates.
Where does the Dabangg animated series fit in the timeline?
Following the success of the movies, India’s Cartoon Network also spawned Dabangg- The Animated Series, a cartoon that included standalone episodic adventures in the life of Chulbul Pandey. But this show is set apart from the timeline of the movies.
Where can you watch the Dabangg remakes?
Dabangg’s first installment has been remade two times in South India with the Tamil remake Osthe starring Silmabarasan in Khan’s role and Sonu Sood yet again playing the antagonist. Later, Pawan Kalyan filled in for Chulbul Pandey in the Telugu remake Gabbar Singh. You can watch Osthe on Sun NXT. As for Gabbar Singh, it can be streamed on Prime Video and Sun NXT. Considering that both are adaptations of the first movie, they can be watched before Dabangg 2 and Dabangg 3.
The Legacy of the Dabangg Movies
The Dabangg franchise has left a significant impact on commercial 2010s-era Bollywood. Salman Khan's portrayal of Chulbul Pandey, with his unique style and dialogues, has become iconic. Even now, the first movie is synonymous with Khan slinging his RayBans Aviator glasses over the back collar of his shirt.
The films are known for their blend of action, humor, and music, catering to a wide audience. While critical acclaim varies across the installments, the franchise's consistent commercial success underscores its popularity.
The Dabangg series has contributed to Salman Khan's status as one of Bollywood's most bankable stars and has established the character of Chulbul Pandey as a cultural phenomenon in Indian cinema. Instead, if one looks back at the promotion tactics of the very first Dabangg movie, it is Chulbul Pandey’s character that was endorsed more than the movie itself. This character promotion has allowed him to live on in two more sequels.
Where to watch the Dabangg movies?
Despite the Dabangg franchise’s popularity, it’s still surprising how difficult it is to watch it on streaming services. The first two can be bought in physical and online copies but aren’t available to stream anymore. Dabangg 3, however, is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.