Dhoom

About the film

Dhoom (transl. Blast) is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Sanjay Gadhvi and produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. The story was written by Chopra with a screenplay by Vijay Krishna Acharya. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra, Esha and Rimi Sen. Set in contemporary Mumbai, the narrative follows a gang of motorbike-riding robbers led by Kabir, and the efforts of police officer Jai Dixit and motorcycle dealer Ali Akbar Fateh Khan to capture them.

Dhoom received mixed reviews from critics. While its performances, action choreography, and music were praised, its storyline drew criticism and was unfavorably compared to Hollywood action franchises such as The Fast and the Furious, Ocean's, and Death Race. Despite this, the film emerged as a commercial success, grossing over ₹290 million (US$3.4 million) in India, making it the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Plot

In Mumbai, a string of bold robberies is executed by a gang of motorcyclists who target banks and armored vehicles, making quick getaways via the Western Express Highway. The case is initially assigned to Inspector Shekhar Sharma but, due to lack of progress, it is soon handed over to Assistant Commissioner of Police 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 grey market 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 Bandra Kurla Complex, 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.

Production

Initially, producer Aditya Chopra envisioned the film with car chases, but director Sanjay Gadhvi 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 Manmohan Desai'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 The Romantics (2023), he remarked, "I spent more money on bikes in Dhoom than on Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, and Uday Chopra."

Principal photography took place across various urban locations in Mumbai and Goa. The film's action sequences were choreographed by Allan Amin, who worked closely with Gadhvi to deliver high-impact stunts involving high-speed bike chases and precision driving.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack of Dhoom was composed by Pritam, with the background score provided by Salim–Sulaiman. The lyrics were written by Sameer.

Other notable tracks on the album include "Dilbara," "Dilbar Shikdum," and "Salaame Salaame." According to Box Office India, with approximately 2.2 million units sold, Dhoom’s soundtrack was the third highest-selling Bollywood album of 2004.

Reception

Dhoom emerged as a commercial success at the box office, becoming the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year. 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.

Dhoom received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics. Rajesh Karkera of Rediff.com 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 Uday Chopra as the scene-stealer, and praised Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham for their respective performances. Esha Deol and Rimi Sen, he noted, had limited but visually appealing roles.

Chitra Mahesh of The Hindu observed that the film took cues from Hollywood franchises such as The Fast and the Furious and Ocean's, 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."

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