# Dabangg 2 (दबंग 2)
**Dabangg 2** (दबंग 2) is a 2012 Hindi-language action comedy film and the second installment of the Dabangg franchise, directed and produced by [Arbaaz Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/arbaaz-khan) and starring [Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan) as the police officer Chulbul Pandey. It was released in India on December 21, 2012, and its story continues directly from *Dabangg* (2010), moving the hero from a rural setting to the city of Kanpur.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | December 21, 2012 (India), in about 3,500 screens[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/) • [3](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/reviews/2012/dabangg-2-critics-review-salman-khan-sonakshi-sinha-102190.html) |
| Director / producer | Arbaaz Khan, in his directorial debut; produced under Arbaaz Khan Productions with Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/) • [4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dabangg-2/critic-review/dabangg-2-movie-review/) |
| Lead cast | Salman Khan (Chulbul Pandey), Sonakshi Sinha (Rajjo), Prakash Raj (Thakur Bachchalal Singh), Vinod Khanna, Arbaaz Khan[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/fullcredits/) |
| Story | Chulbul Pandey is transferred to Kanpur, where he crosses guns with the politician-goon Bachcha Bhaiyya[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms) |
| Music | Sajid-Wajid; songs include "Dagabaaz Re", "Pandeji Seeti", and "Fevicol Se"[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dabangg-2/critic-review/dabangg-2-movie-review/) |
| Budget and gross | Estimated budget ₹450,000,000; gross of $2,519,190 in the US and Canada and $4,216,988 worldwide[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/) |
| Reception | 33% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (15 reviews) and 49% on the Popcornmeter; 3.5/5 from The Times of India[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dabangg_2_2012) • [2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and characters
The story follows the super-cop Chulbul Pandey, now stationed in Kanpur, where he comes into conflict with the vicious local strongman Bachcha Bhaiyya, played by [Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj) as Thakur Bachchalal Singh, a goon who has become a politician.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dabangg_2_2012) In the film's setup, Chulbul kills the brother of a crooked politician, and the politician sends his henchmen to attack Chulbul's wife, leaving Chulbul infuriated.[10](https://www.primevideo.com/-/fil/detail/0TWG53WJZ4Y3P46NMRQ85WYEUH?tr=in)
The supporting cast retains the family circle from the first film: [Vinod Khanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinod-khanna) returns as Chulbul's reconciled stepfather Prajapati Pandey, Sonakshi Sinha plays his wife Rajjo, Deepak Dobriyal plays the villain's sibling Genda Singh, and [Mahie Gill](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahie-gill) plays Nirmala Pandey.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dabangg_2_2012) Kareena Kapoor appears as a dancer in the item song "Fevicol Se".[10](https://www.primevideo.com/-/fil/detail/0TWG53WJZ4Y3P46NMRQ85WYEUH?tr=in) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/awards/)
### Place in the franchise
*Dabangg 2* is the middle film of a trilogy that began with *Dabangg* (2010) and continued with *Dabangg 3* (2019), directed by [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva).[14](https://thesouthasianinsider.com/images/129202583313SAI12sept2025.pdf) The opening credits of the sequel use clips from its prequel *Dabangg*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/) At the time of release, Arbaaz Khan said the team was still deciding whether a third film should look at Chulbul's early days or take a completely new story.[7](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/salmans-brother-calls-the-shots/cid/351478)
## Production and direction
The sequel came about during the making of the first film. Arbaaz Khan, who produced *Dabangg* through his company Arbaaz Khan Productions, said that halfway through the shoot the team sensed a sequel and kept the climax open-ended in case the film did well at the box office.[7](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/salmans-brother-calls-the-shots/cid/351478) When Abhinav Kashyap, director of the first film, refused to direct the sequel, Arbaaz Khan stepped in as director while continuing as producer.[8](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-salman-people-who-watch-my-films-get-sleepless-nights/20121217.htm)
**A deliberate continuation.** Khan said the team considered putting Chulbul in a completely new situation, in the manner of the *Munnabhai* films, but decided that a sequel in the true sense takes the story forward.[7](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/salmans-brother-calls-the-shots/cid/351478) The film was a family production in several senses: Salman Khan starred, his brother Arbaaz directed, Arbaaz's wife [Malaika Arora](https://www.edgepedia.org/malaika-arora) produced and appeared as Munni, and their sister Alvira Agnihotri handled costumes.[9](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/dabangg-2-review-roundup-action-comedy-gets-mixed-reviews-from-critics-417786) Arbaaz Khan also acted in the film as Makhanchand "Makkhi" Pandey, and later said he would not want to act, direct, and produce in the same film again.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dabangg_2_2012) • [7](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/salmans-brother-calls-the-shots/cid/351478)
## Music
The soundtrack was composed by Sajid-Wajid, who had also scored the first film. The songs follow the same desi route, mixing old-world charm in numbers like "Dagabaaz Re" and "Saanson Ne" with foot-tapping tracks such as "Pandeji Seeti" and "Fevicol Se".[4](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dabangg-2/critic-review/dabangg-2-movie-review/) The Times of India review also noted the film's use of the 1980s Bhojpuri hit "Phulauri bina chutney" playing at a function as part of its local detailing.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms) The song "Dabangg Reloaded", written by Jalees Sherwani and performed by [Sukhwinder Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/sukhwinder-singh), was produced by Sajid Ali and Wajid Ali.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/)
## Reception
**Critical response.** Reception was mixed to average, with most reviewers awarding middling scores, and the film's appeal widely tied to viewers' affinity for Salman Khan.[12](https://thereviewmonk.com/movie/dabangg-2/) The Times of India gave it 3.5/5, calling it a better film than the first, tighter, brighter, and sharper, and judging Arbaaz Khan's direction commendable for maximizing his main star and keeping the movie tight.[2](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms) On Rotten Tomatoes the film scored 33% on the Tomatometer from 15 reviews and 49% on the Popcornmeter from more than 500 audience ratings; Anupama Chopra of Hindustan Times gave it 2.5/5, writing that for Salman Khan fans it was manna from heaven while those who like a coherent narrative would not enjoy the ride.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dabangg_2_2012) Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama called it a typical Bollywood film in the tradition of 1980s cinema narrated in today's lingo, with Salman Khan and entertainment in large doses.[9](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/dabangg-2-review-roundup-action-comedy-gets-mixed-reviews-from-critics-417786)
**Box office.** The film opened to packed houses across India after releasing in 3,500 screens on December 21.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/reviews/2012/dabangg-2-critics-review-salman-khan-sonakshi-sinha-102190.html) The trade magazine Film Information reported an extraordinary opening at most places, though opening in small centers of [Uttar Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/uttar-pradesh) fell below the mark, and called the film a blockbuster carried on Salman Khan's shoulders.[13](https://filminformation.com/reviews/dabangg-2-review/) IMDb lists an estimated budget of ₹450,000,000, a US and Canada gross of $2,519,190, and a worldwide gross of $4,216,988.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/)
**Awards.** The film received 12 wins and 27 nominations. Salman Khan won the Zee Cine Popular Award for Best Actor in 2013 and was nominated for the [Filmfare Award for Best Actor](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-actor); Arbaaz Khan was nominated for Best Debuting Director at the Zee Cine Awards, and [Farah Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/farah-khan) received a technical nomination for Best Choreography for the song "Fevicol Se".[11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/awards/)
## References
1. [Dabangg 2 (2012), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/)
2. [Dabangg 2 Movie Review {3.5/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/dabangg-2/movie-review/17705636.cms)
3. [Dabangg 2 Critics Review, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/reviews/2012/dabangg-2-critics-review-salman-khan-sonakshi-sinha-102190.html)
4. [Dabangg 2 Movie Review, Bollywood Hungama (Taran Adarsh)](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dabangg-2/critic-review/dabangg-2-movie-review/)
5. [Dabangg 2 (2012) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/fullcredits/)
6. [Dabangg 2 (2012), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dabangg_2_2012)
7. [Salman's brother calls the shots, Telegraph India](https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/salmans-brother-calls-the-shots/cid/351478)
8. [Salman: If Dabangg 2 fails, Arbaaz is doomed, Rediff.com Movies](https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-salman-people-who-watch-my-films-get-sleepless-nights/20121217.htm)
9. ['Dabangg 2' Review Roundup, IBTimes India](https://www.ibtimes.co.in/dabangg-2-review-roundup-action-comedy-gets-mixed-reviews-from-critics-417786)
10. [Dabangg 2, Prime Video](https://www.primevideo.com/-/fil/detail/0TWG53WJZ4Y3P46NMRQ85WYEUH?tr=in)
11. [Dabangg 2 (2012) Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112131/awards/)
12. [Dabangg 2 (2012) critic reviews, TheReviewMonk](https://thereviewmonk.com/movie/dabangg-2/)
13. [DABANGG 2 review, Film Information (Komal Nahta)](https://filminformation.com/reviews/dabangg-2-review/)
14. [The South Asian Insider, September 2025](https://thesouthasianinsider.com/images/129202583313SAI12sept2025.pdf)
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