Dhamaal 4 Review: The Gang Deliver Laughs in a Familiar Treasure Hunt That Still Works

Dhamaal 4

In theaters now

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Jaaved Jaaferi, Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand and more

Directed by: Indra Kumar

Rating - *** (3/5)

There are films you watch for a gripping story. Then there are films you watch after leaving your logic at the ticket counter. Dhamaal has always belonged to the second category, and thankfully, Dhamaal 4 doesn't pretend to be anything else. Director Indra Kumar once again reunites his favourite gang for another wild ride filled with mistaken identities, loud chases, ridiculous situations, hidden treasure and enough chaos to keep children giggling and families entertained. Does it reinvent the franchise? Not really. Does it try to? Also no. Instead, it comfortably settles into familiar territory and delivers exactly what the audience walking into a Dhamaal film expects: two-and-a-half hours of unapologetic madness.

If you're looking for realism, this isn't your destination. But if you're in the mood to switch off your brain and enjoy some harmless comedy, Dhamaal 4 gives you enough reasons to stay till the end.

The treasure hunt returns... and so does the madness

Every Dhamaal film has revolved around one irresistible idea: everyone wants easy money. This time, the coveted treasure is said to be buried beneath a giant letter "M," and naturally, multiple groups set off on a frantic race to claim it before anyone else.

Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Mishra find themselves teamed up with two young children, while Arshad Warsi, Jaaved Jaaferi and Sanjeeda Shaikh form another hilarious unit. Riteish Deshmukh gets his own journey alongside Anjali Anand, and Ravi Kishan arrives with perhaps the most unusual character in the film, an eccentric pirate whose broken speech and bizarre personality create several laugh-out-loud moments.

The narrative isn't packed with shocking twists, but that's hardly the point. The film survives on comic misunderstandings, outrageous coincidences and one absurd situation after another. It keeps moving at a brisk pace and saves a surprise towards the end that clearly hints the franchise isn't done entertaining audiences just yet.

Comedy first, logic later

The biggest strength of Dhamaal 4 is that it knows its audience. The humour is loud, unapologetically silly and often deliberately over-the-top. Some jokes land beautifully while others feel predictable, but the film manages to maintain an energetic rhythm for most of its runtime.

One sequence involving the "Aadi-Manav" track easily emerges as one of the funniest stretches in the film and is likely to become a crowd favourite inside theatres. It is these moments of complete comic chaos that remind viewers why the franchise has survived for so many years.

The screenplay also sprinkles in several pop culture references that add an extra layer of fun. There are cheeky nods to Pirates of the Caribbean, Marvel's Hulk, Dhoom, Welcome and even Money Heist, with Bella Ciao making a familiar appearance. Not every reference is equally clever, but most of them blend naturally into the madness instead of feeling forced.

Director Indra Kumar even slips in a quirky "Indradhanush" joke that is sure to draw laughs from the audience. However, the film does stretch itself in places. At over 140 minutes, a tighter edit could have made the comedy sharper. Some sequences overstay their welcome, and a few jokes begin to repeat the franchise's familiar patterns. Fans may forgive these hiccups, but fresh viewers might notice the repetition.

A cast that understands the assignment

One of the biggest reasons Dhamaal continues to work is its cast.

Ajay Devgn slips comfortably into the franchise's comic world without trying too hard. Riteish Deshmukh once again proves why comedy remains one of his strongest genres, while Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi continue their effortless partnership that has entertained audiences since the first film.

Among the supporting cast, Ravi Kishan steals several scenes with his delightfully odd pirate act. His unique dialogue delivery and exaggerated mannerisms inject fresh energy whenever he appears.

Sanjay Mishra once again proves he hardly needs lengthy dialogues to make people laugh. Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar, Brijendra Kala, Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh and Anjali Anand all get their moments, contributing to the overall chaos without trying to overshadow the central quartet. The chemistry among the actors feels organic, and that collective energy becomes the film's biggest asset.

Good enough technically, but not without flaws

From a technical standpoint, Dhamaal 4 does the job without being extraordinary. The background score complements the comic mood and helps amplify several sequences. The cinematography keeps the adventurous tone alive, especially during the treasure hunt portions.

The visual effects, however, could have used more polish. Some CGI-heavy moments look noticeably artificial and reduce the impact of otherwise entertaining scenes. It never becomes distracting enough to derail the experience completely, but it is one area where the film could have been considerably stronger. Fortunately, the film's humour compensates for most of these shortcomings.

The final verdict

Dhamaal 4 doesn't arrive with the ambition of changing Bollywood comedy. Instead, it embraces everything that made the franchise popular in the first place and serves it with a fresh set of characters, references and comic situations.

Yes, the story feels familiar. Yes, the visual effects leave room for improvement. And yes, some jokes don't hit the mark.

But when the ensemble gets going, the laughter becomes infectious. The film offers clean family entertainment at a time when such comedies have become increasingly rare. It knows exactly what it wants to be and rarely strays from that path.

If you're expecting groundbreaking storytelling, you may walk away underwhelmed. But if your idea of a good weekend involves popcorn, exaggerated comedy, nostalgic franchise vibes and plenty of laughter, Dhamaal 4 makes for an enjoyable theatrical outing.