Starting with a daring display of heroism, the narrative picks up from Dabangg 2, featuring the beloved yet morally ambiguous cop, [ASP Chulbul Pandey](salman-khan). He boldly thwarts a robbery at a wedding, mercilessly taking on the criminals and their leader, [Gullu](nawab-shah), leaving them battered. Subsequently, Gullu resigns himself to return to his past gig as a wedding band trumpeter. As the story unfolds, Chulbul navigates the complexities of his daily life alongside his wife [Rajjo](sonakshi-sinha), his brother [Makhanchand "Makkhi" Pandey](arbaaz-khan)—also a police officer—and their son, while his father [Prajapati Pandey](pramod-khanna) takes care of Rajjo at home. Makkhi enjoys a life of luxury, often absent from their familial struggles.
One fateful day, a frantic girl stumbles into Makkhi's police station, seeking refuge from her captors, who intended to sell her and other girls. This prompts Makkhi and Chulbul to spring into action, ultimately apprehending [Chinti Walia](dolly-bindra), the head of a prostitution racket. During an interrogation, Chulbul is interrupted by a lawyer and goons attempting to secure Chinti's release. In a power play, he irreversibly destroys the court order. In a twist of fate, the leader of the goons connects via video call to [Bali Singh](kichcha-sudeep), surprising Chulbul as they recognize each other, sparking memories of their turbulent past.
Years earlier, in his youth, Chulbul—whose real name surprisingly is Dhaakad Chand Pandey—developed feelings for [Khushi](saiee-manjrekar), who was initially considered as a potential bride for Makkhi. Upon discovering a photograph of Khushi, Chulbul expressed to his mother, [Naini Devi](dimple-kapadia), his suitability as her future husband. Soon after, Khushi's relatives agreed to the match, allowing their romance to flourish. Yet, trouble loomed as Bali, a violent gangster, also coveted Khushi. When he noticed her with Dhaakad, he decided to take drastic measures, resulting in a tragic confrontation where Khushi's family was slayed, and she was flung off a cliff, leaving Dhaakad wrongfully imprisoned. It was only after he saved [Commissioner Singh](sharat-saxena) that he transformed into Chulbul, embodying his lost love's memory.
In the present day, Chulbul recounts his past to Prajapati and Rajjo, vowing to end the cycle of violence once and for all. Meanwhile, a misguided Makkhi is manipulated by Bali, resulting in an altercation with Chulbul that sees him exiled from the family home. Ultimately, he allies with Bali, who aspires to enter politics and orchestrates a scheme involving a truck laden with cash, ensuring his crew of corrupt officers, including Makkhi, is strategically placed.
Chulbul, however, foils Bali's plans by intercepting this truck and turning his corrupt colleagues against him. Consumed by vengeance, Bali retaliates by abducting Chulbul’s allies and torturing them. In a daring rescue, Chulbul penetrates Bali's hideout, freeing his comrades, although the stakes intensify when Bali kidnaps [Rajjo](sonakshi-sinha) and their son.
The tension escalates as Chulbul receives distressing news from Prajapati about Rajjo's disappearance. Suspecting Bali's involvement, he infiltrates a quarry where she is held captive, revealing Makkhi’s covert assistance in giving Chulbul vital intel throughout. The intense brotherly showdown leads Chulbul to a climactic confrontation with Bali, culminating in a fierce battle where Chulbul emerges victorious, finally vanquishing his nemesis once and for all.
