7 Dogs Review: Salman, Dutt's Pointless Cameos

Salman Khan has built a career on larger-than-life entrances, whistle-worthy dialogue, and the kind of screen presence that can carry a film on sheer star power alone. But even the most devoted fan would struggle to explain why he - and Sanjay Dutt - show up in 7 Dogs, a so-called action drama that’s being described as a painfully generic, Hollywood-flavored misfire. The film, which reportedly features the two Bollywood heavyweights in glorified cameos, has reviewers scratching their heads over what exactly these icons were doing in a project this forgettable.

The movie, which counts Salman Khan in its cast per official metadata, has been drawing comparisons to mid-tier Western action flicks - the kind that go straight to streaming and disappear without a trace. Except here, the presence of two of Hindi cinema’s most bankable stars makes that anonymity impossible. And that’s precisely the problem. Critics are calling it “competition for the Most Pointless Cameo” between Khan and Dutt, a playful jab that underscores just how little their appearances matter to the actual story. If you’re expecting a Bajrangi Bhaijaan-style emotional anchor or a Munna Bhai-esque charisma bomb, you’d be sorely disappointed.

A Hollywood Wannabe That Misses the Mark

The plot - such as it is - appears to borrow heavily from the playbook of American action thrillers, complete with gritty lenses, face-paced editing, and a tonal seriousness that feels wildly out of place for a Bollywood outing. But borrowing the aesthetic doesn’t mean capturing the soul. Reviewers note that the film’s attempts at slick, international-style filmmaking come off as hollow, more imitation than homage. There’s no cultural texture, no local flavor, and crucially, no emotional stakes to make you care about anyone on screen.

Instead of a muscular, gripping narrative, audiences are treated to a chain of improbable action sequences and dialogue that lands with a thud. It’s the kind of movie that uses its Hollywood-inspired veneer as a substitute for genuine storytelling. The result? A dull, mechanical experience that leaves viewers counting down the minutes until the credits roll - or, in some cases, checking their phones mid-scene.

Salman and Sanjay: Wasted Talent in a Vacuum

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Salman Khan is no stranger to experimenting with his image. He’s swung from rom-coms to hard-hitting dramas to full-blown masala blockbusters with surprising ease over the decades. But in 7 Dogs, he reportedly gets little more than a glorified walk-on, offering a flash of his signature swagger before vanishing into the ether. The same goes for Sanjay Dutt, whose imposing screen presence is wasted on a role that could have been played by literally anyone with a leather jacket and a grimace.

What’s particularly frustrating is that both actors are capable of elevating mediocre material. Give them even a half-decent scene, and they can command the screen like few others. Yet here, they’re reduced to cameo-level appearances that feel less like craft and more like contractual obligations. It’s almost as if the filmmakers thought, “Slap these names on the poster, and audiences won’t notice the emptiness.” Spoiler alert: they noticed.

The Curious Case of the Missing Momentum

Even as a straightforward action drama, 7 Dogs fails to generate any real heat. The pacing is sluggish, the action beats are predictable, and the stakes - whatever they are - feel paper-thin. Reviewers have pointed out that the film’s Hollywood-ish aspirations only highlight its fundamental flaws. There’s no sustained tension, no clever twists, and certainly no moments that would make you want to rewatch it. It’s the kind of movie that exists purely to fill a release slot, leaving you with a shrug rather than a conversation starter.

Of course, the movie hasn’t been officially panned into oblivion - at least not yet. But the early critical consensus is clear: this is a project that had all the ingredients for a fun, if disposable, action outing, yet somehow managed to bake a cake with no flavor. Or, to borrow a sports metaphor: it’s a team with two star players who never get the ball.

What Does This Mean for Bollywood’s Action Revival?

In recent years, Bollywood has been trying to crack the code of slick, globally appealing action cinema. Films like Pathaan and Jawan proved that audiences will show up for spectacle when it’s delivered with panache and a dose of self-awareness. But 7 Dogs seems to miss the memo, confusing technical gloss with genuine excitement. It’s a cautionary tale that you can’t just slap a “Hollywood-style” label on something and expect it to work. You need a script that earns it, characters you invest in, and - above all - action that makes your heart race, not your eyes roll.

For Salman Khan, this film won’t dent his stardom. He’s survived far worse and come back stronger. For Sanjay Dutt, it’s another reminder that even veteran actors can’t salvage a project that lacks direction. And for audiences, it’s a Netflix-and-skip situation waiting to happen.

Will 7 Dogs find an audience among die-hard fans who’ll watch anything with their favorite stars? Maybe. But for the rest of us, it’s a film that reinforces an uncomfortable truth: sometimes, the most pointless cameo isn’t the actor’s fault - it’s the movie’s.

Source: Hindustan Times