Introduction
Two lawyers, one name and one very crowded courtroom: Jolly LLB 3 is the third film in Subhash Kapoor’s courtroom comedy series, and the first to put Akshay Kumar’s Jagdishwar “Jolly” Mishra and Arshad Warsi’s Jagdish “Jolly” Tyagi on opposite sides of the same case. It reached theatres on September 19, 2025, and began streaming on Netflix on November 14, 2025.
The case at its centre is a serious one: ancestral land seized by a powerful businessman, and a farmer’s fight for justice. In this review we cover the story, the cast, the music and the making of the film, along with what critics said, the pros and cons, and our rating. Here are the key details at a glance.
Quick Facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Film | Jolly LLB 3 |
| Director and writer | Subhash Kapoor |
| Theatrical release | September 19, 2025 |
| Streaming | Netflix, from November 14, 2025 |
| Language and genre | Hindi, black comedy and courtroom drama |
| Runtime | 157 minutes |
| Certificate | U/A |
| Producers | Akshay Kumar and Dimple Kharbanda (Cape of Good Films), with Disney |
| Lead cast | Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi, Saurabh Shukla, Huma Qureshi, Amrita Rao |
| Villain | Gajraj Rao |
| Box office (India net) | About ₹117 crore |
Overview
Jolly LLB 3 dives into a spirited legal drama and comedy, reuniting Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi as rival lawyers in a high-stakes courtroom face-off that promises double the laughter, chaos and surprises. Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film builds its story around a major conflict between the two “Jollys”, each bringing their own style, wit and morality to the legal battle and often bending technicalities to win their case.
Judge Sunder Lal Tripathi, played by Saurabh Shukla, once again stands comically bewildered between their verbal sparring and unpredictable legal manoeuvres. It is the third film in the Jolly LLB series, and it puts both Jollys in the same courtroom.
The Story (Spoiler-Free)
This time the plot revolves around ancestral land being seized by a powerful businessman, played by Gajraj Rao. That triggers a socially relevant case with themes of justice, ethics and farmer rights, and it pulls both Jollys into the same courtroom on opposite sides.
The film’s engine is the clash between the two lawyers. Jagdishwar “Jolly” Mishra and Jagdish “Jolly” Tyagi share a name and a profession but not a method, and the courtroom becomes the place where their styles collide. Around that sit the wives who back them, the judge who cannot keep up, and the characters whose stakes in the land case give the comedy its emotional anchor.
Cast and Crew
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Advocate Jagdishwar “Jolly” Mishra | Akshay Kumar |
| Advocate Jagdish “Jolly” Tyagi | Arshad Warsi |
| Judge Sunder Lal Tripathi | Saurabh Shukla |
| Pushpa Pandey Mishra | Huma Qureshi |
| Sandhya Tyagi | Amrita Rao |
| Powerful businessman | Gajraj Rao |
| Key supporting roles | Boman Irani, Annu Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Ram Kapoor |
| Director | Subhash Kapoor |
Huma Qureshi and Amrita Rao add emotional gravity, reprising their roles as the supportive wives of the two lead advocates. Seema Biswas and Ram Kapoor appear in pivotal roles that deepen the drama.
The Jolly LLB Series So Far
The franchise follows a different “Jolly” in each film, all written and directed by Subhash Kapoor.
| Film | Year | Lead | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly LLB | 2013 | Arshad Warsi | Jagdish Tyagi “Jolly” |
| Jolly LLB 2 | 2017 | Akshay Kumar | Jagdishwar Mishra “Jolly” |
| Jolly LLB 3 | 2025 | Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi | Both Jollys, in the same story |
Jolly LLB 3 is the film that brings the two leads together, which is why it was announced with the working idea of a “Jolly vs Jolly” face-off. Saurabh Shukla returns as the judge, and Huma Qureshi, who appeared in Jolly LLB 2, is back as well.
Making of the Film
The film was announced with Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi in the lead and Subhash Kapoor as the creative force. It was produced by Disney in collaboration with Cape of Good Films, Akshay Kumar’s production company.
Filming was reported to begin in May 2024. Arshad Warsi would start shooting first in Rajasthan on a month-long schedule, with Akshay Kumar joining later, and Jaipur was named as a planned location. The finished film was reviewed as being shot on locations in Bikaner, and it reached theatres on September 19, 2025. It later arrived on Netflix on November 14, 2025.
Music and Technical Side
The first single, “Bhai Vakeel Hai”, was composed by Aman Pant, who also sang it with KD, with lyrics by Pardhaan and Akhil Tiwari. It is a high-energy courtroom-themed number featuring Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi and Saurabh Shukla. A second track, “Glass Uchhi Rakhey”, was released as a party number.
The song drew a legal challenge. A public interest petition in the Madhya Pradesh High Court argued that its depiction of advocates ridiculed the legal profession and sought to restrain its circulation. The case was listed for hearing in September 2025, and we found no report of a ruling.
On the technical side, India TV praised the cinematography of the Bikaner locations and the background music and courtroom sound design, and Pinkvilla found the score subtle enough not to overpower the courtroom dialogue. Song details come from Filmibeat and LiveLaw.
Themes: Land, Justice and Ethics
The film puts a real-world issue at the centre of its comedy. Its story of ancestral land seized by a powerful businessman touches on forced land acquisition, farmer suicides and unequal access to justice, as India TV’s review notes.
The two lawyers also stand for two attitudes to the law. Each “Jolly” brings his own style and morality to the case and is not above bending technicalities to win, so the film keeps asking where cleverness in court ends and ethics begin. The message, as the same review puts it, is that legal battles involve more than paperwork and debate: they involve systemic failures and ordinary people seeking justice.
Our Review
Jolly LLB 3 is at its best when the two Jollys share a courtroom. Akshay Kumar plays the louder, more physical lawyer and Arshad Warsi the drier, more understated one, and the contrast between them is where most of the laughs come from. Their banter, with a bewildered judge caught between them, is the reason to watch and the heart of the series.
The real star of the comedy is Saurabh Shukla. As Judge Sunder Lal Tripathi he gets the film’s best reactions, and reviewers across the board single him out. Seema Biswas leaves a strong impression with very few lines, and Ram Kapoor gets a courtroom argument that is worth the wait.
What gives the film weight is its subject. An ancestral land grab, farmer rights and unequal access to justice are real concerns, and Subhash Kapoor keeps them in focus rather than burying them in jokes. The balance between comedy and tragedy does not always hold, and the second half turns serious enough to feel stretched.
The weaker points are the ones critics keep returning to. The businessman villain, played by Gajraj Rao, is underwritten and lacks menace, so the stakes can feel low. Huma Qureshi and Amrita Rao have little to do beyond supporting their husbands, and the satire is less sharp than in the first two films. Some reviews call it the weakest of the three.
Even so, it stays entertaining. It may not break new ground, but the cast carries it, and it is an easy recommendation for anyone who has enjoyed the Jolly LLB series.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Two lead styles that complement each other. Kumar is broad and physical, Warsi is dry and understated, and the contrast works.
- Saurabh Shukla as the judge. Praised as the standout by every review we read.
- A subject that matters. Farmer rights, forced land acquisition and access to justice give the comedy something real to rest on.
- Strong supporting turns. Seema Biswas and Ram Kapoor make the most of key scenes.
- Well-staged courtroom scenes with a clear rhythm, and a subtle background score that stays out of the dialogue.
- Franchise comfort. It keeps the tone and humour fans of the series expect.
Cons
- An underwritten villain. The businessman lacks menace, which lowers the stakes.
- Pacing. The first half could be tighter and the second half feels stretched at 157 minutes.
- Wasted cast. Huma Qureshi and Amrita Rao are underused.
- Uneven tone. The shifts between comedy and heavy drama do not always land.
- Less sharp satire than the earlier films, and some of the story plays out outside the courtroom.
Should You Watch Jolly LLB 3?
Watch it if you enjoyed the earlier Jolly LLB films, like courtroom comedies with a social message, or want to see Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi share the screen.
Skip it if you want a tightly paced legal thriller or expect the sharpest satire of the series.
It streams on Netflix, so it works well as a weekend watch. You do not need to have seen the earlier films, but fans of the series will get more out of the familiar faces and the running jokes.
Reception and Box Office
Critics were broadly positive but not wildly so. Most called it entertaining and carried by its cast, while noting it falls short of the earlier films.
| Outlet | Rating | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Pinkvilla | 3.5 / 5 | Entertaining, driven by the cast, but the first half needed tighter editing |
| India Forums | 3.5 / 5 | Still charming, though the weakest of the trilogy, with an underwritten villain |
| India TV | 3 / 5 | A good one-time watch, especially for fans of the series |
The film earned about ₹116.75 crore net in India, ₹139.3 crore gross in India and ₹170.8 crore gross worldwide, according to Oneindia. It arrived on Netflix on November 14, 2025.
If You Liked Jolly LLB 3, Watch These Next
Start with the earlier Jolly LLB films, then move to other courtroom dramas that mix a legal fight with a social message.
| Film | Year | Director | Why watch it next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly LLB | 2013 | Subhash Kapoor | The original, with Arshad Warsi as Jagdish “Jolly” Tyagi, the lawyer he plays here |
| Jolly LLB 2 | 2017 | Subhash Kapoor | Akshay Kumar as Jagdishwar “Jolly” Mishra, with Saurabh Shukla and Huma Qureshi, in a courtroom comedy-drama about a police negligence case |
| Pink | 2016 | Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury | A retired lawyer, played by Amitabh Bachchan, defends three young women, with consent and women’s rights at its centre |
| Mulk | 2018 | Anubhav Sinha | A Muslim family fights prejudice and the law to prove its loyalty to India, with Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu |
| Section 375 | 2019 | Ajay Bahl | A tense drama on consent and the legal system, with Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadha |
| Rustom | 2016 | Tigmanshu Dhulia | Akshay Kumar as a naval officer on trial, inspired by the real K.M. Nanavati case |
If you want more comedy, go for the first two Jolly LLB films. If you want a more serious courtroom experience, Pink, Mulk and Section 375 are the stronger picks.
Our Rating
3.5 / 5
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Performances | 4 / 5 |
| Humour | 3.5 / 5 |
| Story and writing | 3 / 5 |
| Direction and message | 3.5 / 5 |
| Rewatch value | 3 / 5 |
Final Verdict
Jolly LLB 3 is an enjoyable courtroom comedy that works because of its cast rather than its plot. Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi bring out the best in each other, Saurabh Shukla steals nearly every scene he is in, and the farmer-rights theme gives the film a purpose beyond the laughs. A weak villain, uneven pacing and wasted supporting roles keep it from matching the best of the series. Watch it for the performances and the humour, and go in expecting a fun, socially aware film rather than a perfect one.
FAQs
When did Jolly LLB 3 release? In theatres on September 19, 2025.
Where can I watch Jolly LLB 3 online? On Netflix, where it arrived on November 14, 2025.
Who directed Jolly LLB 3? Subhash Kapoor, who also wrote the film.
Who stars in it? Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi play the two Jollys, with Saurabh Shukla as Judge Sunder Lal Tripathi, Huma Qureshi, Amrita Rao, Gajraj Rao, Seema Biswas, Ram Kapoor, Boman Irani and Annu Kapoor in key roles.
What is the story about? An ancestral land seized by a powerful businessman sets off a case about justice, ethics and farmer rights, and both Jollys end up on opposite sides in court.
How long is the film? 157 minutes, with a U/A certificate.
Do I need to watch the earlier Jolly LLB films first? No. It works on its own, but fans of the series will enjoy the familiar tone and characters more.
Is Jolly LLB 3 a hit? It earned about ₹117 crore net in India. We have not found an official budget figure, so we cannot say how it compares with its cost.
Is it suitable for the whole family? It is certified U/A, though its subject matter is serious, so it suits older children and adults best.