The madness and mayhem of the Dhamaal franchise return to the big screen with Dhamaal 4, which released in theatres on Friday. Directed by Indra Kumar, the latest instalment brings back the franchise’s trademark blend of chaos, comedy and confusion.
The film boasts an ensemble cast featuring Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi, Riteish Deshmukh, Ravi Kishan, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Anjali Anand, Esha Gupta, Sanjay Mishra and several others.
The release comes amid stiff competition at the box office from Akshay Kumar’s Welcome to the Jungle and Alia Bhatt’s Alpha. Despite sharing screens with two major releases, Dhamaal 4 has managed to secure a strong theatrical presence across the country.
Audience reactions pour in
The comedy entertainer witnessed a healthy turnout on its opening day, with moviegoers taking to social media to share their reviews.
While some viewers criticised the use of AI-generated visuals and termed a few dialogues as cringeworthy, the majority of reactions described the film as an entertaining watch packed with humour and nostalgia.
One viewer wrote that the film was “decent” till the interval, praising the storyline and performances while pointing out that some jokes worked better than others. The reviewer also criticised the background music and the AI-generated opening sequence.
Another user hailed the film as a successful return for one of Bollywood’s biggest comedy franchises, praising Indra Kumar for managing a large ensemble cast while maintaining a fast-paced narrative and high energy levels throughout the film.
Several viewers highlighted the comic timing of Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Mishra, while Jaaved Jaaferi’s dialogue delivery and Ajay Devgn’s expressions also received praise. Many also appreciated the background score accompanying the comic sequences and described the first half as particularly engaging.
A complete family entertainer
Many social media users described Dhamaal 4 as a wholesome family entertainer that stays true to the essence of the franchise and offers an enjoyable theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.
Not everyone was completely convinced, however. Some viewers felt the writing lacked the sharpness of the original film despite strong performances from the cast. One user described the film as slightly better than Total Dhamaal, adding that it becomes more enjoyable when watched in a packed theatre.
Another reviewer called it “a fun watch” with plenty of laughs and even claimed it was more entertaining than Welcome to the Jungle.
About the franchise
Launched in 2007, the Dhamaal series remains one of Bollywood’s longest-running and most successful comedy franchises. The original film, starring Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Aashish Chaudhary and Jaaved Jaaferi, revolved around a frantic hunt for Rs 10 crore hidden beneath the letter “W” in Goa and eventually achieved cult status among audiences.
Dhamaal 4 is presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with Devgn Films, T-Series Films, Maruti International and Panorama Studios. The film has been produced by Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Indra Kumar, Anand Pandit and Kumar Mangat Pathak.