New Delhi

The tropes are the same yet season 3 of Aarya keeps you hooked from the first episode itself. Sushmita Sen dons the role of Aarya Sareen once again in Ram Madhavani's created world of drugs, deceit, revenge, and guns. When you have two successful seasons behind you and the basic framework of the plot remains the same- it is hard to make the story engaging, yet Aarya 3 breaks these myths so effectively- making the web series deeply engaging right from the first episode. 

The first episode opens with an elaborate recap of how the story unfolded and the incidents that led to Aarya Sareen becoming a drug lord. The second season ended with Aarya taking over the reins of the 'business' from her family, and killing her biological father. Season 3 begins with Sen as a Don who has learnt the tricks of the trade, assured and protective of her brood, and one who is now dealing with the Russian mafia and making big bucks. 

Aarya has cracked a deal big deal with the Russians and has to supply a huge consignment of heroin to them. But that's not the only herculean task that she has to take up. Her aide has been shot dead, her children are going through their personal crisis as she rises to power, her best friend needs her for personal crisis, Aarya's former aide is not by her side anymore and she has an angsty man after her life. Sooraj (Indraneil Sengupta) is the main antagonist to Aarya's heroic actions. But the good and bad are all jumbled up. Most are fighting for their loved ones, to protect them, to avenge their deaths. 

At 40 minutes run time, the episodes are packed with action. Aarya's old nemesis Khan is again after her and her closely knit circle isn't able to shield and guise her operations- faltering on most occasions and giving Khan more reasons to pursue Aarya in cases of murder, extortion, and smuggling of illegal drugs. In the previous seasons of the show, Aarya was shown as a scared mother, who was only keen to protect her children after her husband gets shot. Clueless to the murky family business, Aarya took time to understand the dirty, dark world that her brother, father and husband were involved in. In the third season, she remains a lioness, putting her children's safety first, but she is less emotional and more calculative and now takes the right steps in order to keep her empire running smoothly. 

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Sen is fantastic as the fierce, calm, and dangerous Aarya. She is no longer running away from the murky world that she was forced into after her husband's passing away. She is now a queen who rules a kingdom and knows how to keep her loved ones safe. They may not always agree with her ways, but for her, their safety is the most important and she can go to any lengths to protect them. Sen delivers her line in a practised, calm demeanour, making Aarya more mysterious to the viewers. 

Indraneil Sengupta and Illa Arun - the new additions to the cast - deliver their parts well and form the antithesis to Aarya's righteous ways of protecting her children. Sengupta, much like Sen, underplays his villainous avatar making Sooraj more ruthless and dangerous. He is calm, almost gentle in the way he treats his targets yet the most conniving of the lot. Vikas Kumar as ACP Khan is formidable as the cop who wants to nab Aarya by hook and crook. 

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Part 1 of Aarya 3 ends after four episodes - almost at a cliffhanger, making the viewers eager for the conclusion, which will come at a later time. But it should be said that the makers manage to keep the viewers hooked throughout the four episodes, - even if the plot is known and the show in its third season. Aarya Season 3 is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

Also read: Sushmita Sen suffered heart attack months after positive health reports: Suddenly and unexpectedly