Dhoom

<p>In , a string of bold robberies is executed by a gang of motorcyclists who target banks and armored vehicles, making quick getaways via the . The case is initially assigned to Inspector Shekhar Sharma but, due to lack of progress, it is soon handed over to Jai Dixit, a determined and methodical officer. To advance the investigation, Jai recruits Ali Akbar Fateh Khan, a garage owner and skilled street racer, after witnessing his driving skills during a scuffle in a area. Although initially suspected of having been involved, Ali is cleared when a robbery occurs while he is in custody. Noting that the gang consistently uses the highway for their escapes, Jai begins to predict their next move. The gang is led by the calm and calculating Kabir, whose accomplices—Rahul, Rohit, Tony, and Sheena—operate under the guise of pizza delivery workers. During a heist at the , the gang evades capture, though one member is injured and their stolen goods are recovered by Jai. After a direct confrontation, Kabir challenges Jai to stop them at their next operation. Despite Jai’s careful planning, the gang escapes once again, although Rohit is killed in the process. Following a failed attempt to intercept the gang during a concert robbery, Jai suspects Ali of betrayal and ends their alliance, resigning from the force. Kabir approaches Ali to fill Rohit’s place in the gang, unaware that Ali remains loyal to Jai and has gone undercover. The gang travels to Goa to carry out one final heist at a casino on . The operation succeeds, but they soon discover it was a trap orchestrated by Jai. Kabir escapes with the remaining members and Sheena, who is later revealed to be held hostage by Ali. In a confrontation, Kabir attacks Ali, but Jai intervenes. During the ensuing chase, the gang is eliminated one by one. Cornered at a cliffside with no escape, Kabir chooses to end his life by riding off into the sea. The film ends with Jai and Ali resuming their banter, signaling the friendship forged during the investigation. was conceived as an action-oriented thriller aimed at modernizing the genre for Indian audiences. Initially, producer envisioned the film with car chases, but director proposed the use of motorcycles instead. Gadhvi argued that bikes would allow better visibility of the actors’ faces during stunts and cited his personal enthusiasm for motorcycles as a major influence. According to Gadhvi, the film’s narrative was designed with an event every six minutes—such as an action sequence, chase, or song—drawing inspiration from ’s storytelling rhythm to maintain audience engagement. Chopra allocated a significant portion of the film’s budget to acquiring high-end motorcycles, even exceeding the combined remuneration of the lead actors. In (2023), he remarked, “I spent more money on bikes in than on , , and .” was cast as ACP Jai Dixit, a stern and pragmatic police officer, while took on the role of Kabir, the antagonist and leader of the biker gang. was cast as Ali Akbar Fateh Khan, a street-smart mechanic and racer who adds comic relief. and were cast in supporting roles. The film was designed to appeal to a younger audience through its casting, styling, and music. took place across various urban locations in and . The film’s action sequences were choreographed by , who worked closely with Gadhvi to deliver high-impact stunts involving high-speed bike chases and precision driving. The soundtrack of was composed by , with the background score provided by . The lyrics were written by . The album featured a mix of high-energy tracks and romantic numbers, performed by vocalists including , , , , and . The title track, ” ,” was released in multiple versions. The original was sung by , while a remixed version performed by pop singer was released separately and accompanied by a music video. The Tata Young version became a major hit across India during 2004 and 2005, significantly contributing to the film’s youth appeal and promotional success. Other notable tracks on the album include “Dilbara,” “Dilbar Shikdum,” and “Salaame Salaame.” According to , with approximately 2.2 million units sold, ’s soundtrack was the third highest-selling Bollywood album of 2004. emerged as a commercial success at the box office, becoming the . The film netted approximately ₹45 million in the Mumbai circuit alone. Its total net collection in India was around ₹290 million (US$3.4 million), with an estimated lifetime worldwide adjusted gross of ₹725 million (US$8.6 million). The film also performed well in overseas markets, grossing approximately US$2 million, including US$330,400 from the United States. received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, who praised its style, action sequences, and performances, while criticizing its derivative storyline and lack of narrative depth. Rajesh Karkera of noted that while the film had “a few loopholes,” its “fast-paced energy is more than enough to ensure your eyes don’t stir from the screen for two-and-a-half hours.” He singled out as the scene-stealer, and praised and for their respective performances. and , he noted, had limited but visually appealing roles. Chitra Mahesh of observed that the film took cues from Hollywood franchises such as and , and complimented the “well-done” action scenes and “pacy editing.” She wrote that “Chopra is delightful,” Bachchan brings “style and grit,” and Abraham is convincing as “the mean-but-savvy thief.” criticized the film for borrowing from (1989), (1987), (2001), and (1991), but acknowledged that it was “surprisingly enjoyable nonsense” that moved at “full-throttle.” David Parkinson of rated the film 3 out of 5, describing it as a “slick and stylish Indian drama” where “style unashamedly triumphs over substance,” but praised the “slickly staged” set pieces. Omar Ahmed of rated it 2 out of 5, remarking that the film seemed like an “anxious attempt to blind its audience with style” rather than focusing on Yash Raj Films’ “cultural uniqueness.” However, he credited the actors for delivering strong performances. In contrast, of gave the film 1.5 out of 5, criticizing its lack of a strong script and calling it “one of YRF’s weakest films.” He stated that while the action and chase sequences stood out, the film relied “too heavily on thrills” and lacked compelling drama. of called a “testosterone overdose,” describing it as “adolescent heaven” filled with fast bikes, stylish action, and “sexy songs with water hoses.” She emphasized that “acting isn’t the point here,” and described the performances as “pure posture.” Several bank robberies happened shortly after the film released in the similar style as shown in the film.</p>