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Dhoom

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This article is about the 2004 film. For the film franchise, see Dhoom (franchise). For other uses, see Dhoom (disambiguation).

Dhoom
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySanjay Gadhvi
Written byVijay Krishna Acharya
Story byAditya Chopra
Produced byAditya Chopra
Starring
CinematographyNirav Shah
Edited byRameshwar S. Bhagat
Music byOriginal Songs:
Pritam
Background Score:
Salim–Sulaiman
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • 27 August 2004 (2004-08-27)
Running time
129 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budgetest.₹110 million[2]
Box officeest.₹ 724.7 million[3]

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.

The film marked Yash Raj Films' first foray into the action genre since Vijay (1988). Principal photography was handled by Nirav Shah, with editing by Rameshwar S. Bhagat. The soundtrack was composed by Pritam, while Salim–Sulaiman provided the background score. Action sequences featured prominently, with a focus on motorcycle stunts, which became a hallmark of the film and its successors.

Released theatrically on 27 August 2004, 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. Over time, it gained cult status and is credited with reviving the action genre in mainstream Hindi cinema.[4][5]

At the 50th Filmfare Awards, Dhoom received six nominations, including Best Film, Best Performance in a Negative Role (Abraham) and Best Music Director (Pritam), and won two awards: Best Editing and Best Sound Design.

The success of Dhoom launched a film franchise, with sequels Dhoom 2 (2006) and Dhoom 3 (2013), both of which featured Bachchan and Chopra reprising their roles and expanded the series into one of Bollywood’s most successful action trilogies.

Plot

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In Mumbai, a series of daring robberies are carried out by a gang of motorcyclists who target banks and armored vehicles, escaping swiftly via the Western Express Highway. The case is initially assigned to Inspector Shekhar Sharma but, due to lack of progress, is soon taken over by Assistant Commissioner of Police Jai Dixit, a determined and methodical officer.

To aid the investigation, Jai recruits Ali Akbar Fateh Khan, a garage owner and skilled street racer, after witnessing his driving prowess during an altercation in a grey market area. Though initially suspected of involvement, Ali is cleared when a robbery occurs while he is in custody. Observing that the gang's escape routes consistently involve the highway, Jai anticipates 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, and 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 New Year's Eve. 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.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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Dhoom was conceived as an action-oriented thriller aimed at modernizing the genre for Indian audiences. 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.[6][7]

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.[8] 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.”[9]

Casting

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Abhishek Bachchan was cast as ACP Jai Dixit, a stern and pragmatic police officer, while John Abraham took on the role of Kabir, the antagonist and leader of the biker gang. Uday Chopra was cast as Ali Akbar Fateh Khan, a street-smart mechanic and racer who adds comic relief. Esha Deol and Rimi Sen were cast in supporting roles. The film was designed to appeal to a younger audience through its casting, styling, and music.[6]

Filming

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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.[10]

Soundtrack

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Main article: Dhoom (soundtrack)

The soundtrack of Dhoom was composed by Pritam, with the background score provided by Salim–Sulaiman. The lyrics were written by Sameer. The album featured a mix of high-energy tracks and romantic numbers, performed by vocalists including KK, Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala, and Sunidhi Chauhan.

The title track, "Dhoom Dhoom," was released in multiple versions. The original was sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, while a remixed version performed by Thai-American pop singer Tata Young 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 Box Office India, with approximately 2.2 million units sold, Dhoom’s soundtrack was the third highest-selling Bollywood album of 2004.[11]

Reception

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Box office

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Dhoom emerged as a commercial success at the box office, becoming the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year.[4] The film netted approximately ₹45 million in the Mumbai circuit alone.[3] 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).[12][13] The film also performed well in overseas markets, grossing approximately US$2 million, including US$330,400 from the United States.[14]

Critical response

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Dhoom 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 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.[15]

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."[16]

Time Out criticized the film for borrowing from Tango & Cash (1989), Lethal Weapon (1987), The Fast and the Furious (2001), and Thelma & Louise (1991), but acknowledged that it was “surprisingly enjoyable nonsense” that moved at “full-throttle.”[17]

David Parkinson of Radio Times 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.[18]

Omar Ahmed of Empire 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.[19]

In contrast, Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM 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.[20]

Anupama Chopra of India Today called Dhoom 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."[21]

Accolades

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Award Ceremony date Category Recipients Results Ref.
Screen Awards 12 January 2005 Best Comedian Uday Chopra Nominated [22]
Best Music Director Pritam Nominated
Best Background Music Salim–Sulaiman Won
Best Cinematography Nirav Shah Nominated
Best Editing Rameshwar S. Bhagat Won
Best Sound Design Dwarak Warrier Nominated
Best Action Allan Amin Nominated
Global Indian Film Awards 25 January 2005 Best Comedian Uday Chopra Nominated [23]
Best Music Director Pritam Won
Best Female Playback Singer Sunidhi Chauhan (for "Dhoom Machale Dhoom") Won
Best Editing Rameshwar S. Bhagat Won
Stardust Awards 20 February 2005 Breakthrough Performance – Female Rimi Sen Nominated [24]
Filmfare Awards 26 February 2005 Best Film Dhoom Nominated [25]
Best Villain John Abraham Nominated
Best Music Director Pritam Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Sunidhi Chauhan (for "Dhoom Machale Dhoom") Nominated
Best Editing Rameshwar S. Bhagat Won
Best Sound Design Dwarak Warrier Won
Zee Cine Awards 26 March 2005 Best Villain John Abraham Won [26]
Best Comedian Uday Chopra Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Sunidhi Chauhan (for "Dhoom Machale Dhoom") Won
Best Song of the Year "Dhoom Machale Dhoom" Won
Best Dialogue Vijay Krishna Acharya Nominated
Best Background Score Salim–Sulaiman Nominated
Best Costume Design Anaita Shroff Adajania Nominated
Best Editing Rameshwar S. Bhagat Nominated
Best Action Allan Amin Won
Best Special Effects Pankaj Khandpur Nominated
Best Sound Re-Recording Leslie Fernandes Nominated
Best Audiography Dwarak Warrier Nominated
Best Film Processing Yash Raj Films Nominated
Bollywood Movie Awards 30 April 2005 Best Comedian Uday Chopra Nominated [27]
Best Villain John Abraham Won
Best Female Playback Singer Sunidhi Chauhan (for "Dhoom Machale Dhoom") Won
IIFA Awards 9–11 June 2005 Best Film Dhoom Nominated [28]
Best Supporting Actress Esha Deol Nominated
Best Villain John Abraham Won
Best Comedian Uday Chopra Nominated
Best Music Director Pritam Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Sunidhi Chauhan (for "Dhoom Machale Dhoom") Won
Best Action Allan Amin Won

Real-life influence

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See also: Chelembra bank robbery

Several bank robberies happened shortly after the film released in the similar style as shown in the film.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "DHOOM (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 23 August 2004. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Dhoom 2 set to make big splash".
  3. ^ a b "Top Lifetime Grossers 2000-2009 (Figures in Ind Rs)". Box Office India. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Box Office 2004". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  5. ^ "As Dhoom Clocks 15 Years, Esha Deol Shares a Heartfelt Long Note Celebrating the Film". News18. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Cinema Express – Revisiting Dhoom".
  7. ^ Ashraf, Syed Firdaus (26 August 2004). "People will love Dhoom!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Dhoom's director cracked a 6-minute formula way before streaming era's algorithms, walked away when franchise became hit". The Indian Express. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Aditya Chopra spent more money on bikes in 'Dhoom' than on Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham". India Today. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  10. ^ "20 Years of Dhoom: Behind the Scenes Secrets and Stories - Jay-Ho!". 25 August 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008.
  12. ^ "Dhoom Box Office Collection | India | Day Wise | Box Office – Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. 16 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Yash Raj Films". Archived from the original on 11 November 2006.
  14. ^ "Home".
  15. ^ "Dhoom mach gaya!".
  16. ^ Mahesh, Chitra (3 September 2004). ""Dhoom"". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Dhoom". Time Out. 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  18. ^ Parkinson, David (August 2004). "Dhoom – review". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  19. ^ Ahmed, Omar (1 January 2000). "Dhoom Review". Empire. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  20. ^ Adarsh, Taran (27 August 2004). "Dhoom : Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  21. ^ Chopra, Anupama (13 September 2004). "Film review: 'Dhoom' starring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Uday Chopra". India Today. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  22. ^ bollywoodproduct (10 May 2022). "11th Screen Awards 2005". Bollywood Product. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  23. ^ "GLOBAL INDIAN FILM AWARDS". web.archive.org. 25 January 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Diaspora News & Network Ltd". web.archive.org. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  25. ^ "Filmfare Awards 2005 Winners". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  26. ^ "Sunfeast Zee Cine Awards 2005 - 8th Zee Cine Awards & Winners". www.awardsandshows.com. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Bollywood Awards | Bollywood Fashion Awards | Bollywood Music Awards". web.archive.org. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  28. ^ "Archive Details". IIFA. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  29. ^ "Cops apply brakes on 'Dhoom' style robbers". The Times of India. 30 November 2004. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
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