Dhamaal 4 (2026) Review!!

Synopsis – Dhamaal 4 follows a chaotic gang of returning friends and conmen who embark on a frantic quest to chase the mythical “Treasure of Life”. What starts as a standard treasure hunt quickly spirals into a rollercoaster of misadventures, pitting the group against eccentric pirates, greedy rivals, and even spooky encounters with ghosts.

My Take – Though modest success at the box office upon release, the immensely likable Dhamaal (2007), a spirited adaptation of Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), eventually found its true audience on television, YouTube, and streaming platforms.

However, since then, the franchise has been milked for every ounce of its popularity, with one installment after another built around the same conceit: a century-old hidden treasure that lures a band of greedy fortune-seekers into reckless escapades, testing both their nerve and their relationships. Yet as the budgets, scale, and star power have grown, the quality have also steadily eroded, most glaringly with Total Dhamaal (2019), where Ajay Devgn, doubling as producer, seemed to hijack the series in pursuit of marquee value.

This latest outing follows the familiar template, raising the stakes, enlarging the canvas, and amplifying the chaos, with returning director Indra Kumar (Dil, Ishq) ensuring the franchise’s trademark madness remains intact while injecting a heightened sense of adventure. The result is a ride that’s not just silly, predictable, and undeniably entertaining, but also a marked improvement over the last two installments.

Of course, reinvention is not on the menu, but the film delivers exactly what’s expected, and how seriously can one take a narrative that opens with Ravi Kishan as a pirate on a wooden ship, only for Devgn to swoop in on a jet ski? Flaws aside, it is unabashedly a popcorn entertainer. The kind that works best when logic is left at the door.

The story begins with an AI-generated Bata Bhai (the late Satish Kaushik) and then an AI-generated Jackie Shroff narrate the tale of an Indian pirate called Shaitaan Singh, who stole from the British empire and hide his treasure on an island, and then in the present day follows Guddu (Ajay Devgn), who along with his loyal sidekick Johnny (Sanjay Mishra), runs an antique shop, and finds himself in conflict with the bumbling sea pirate Adhoora (Ravi Kishan), when he saves his friend Prithvi (Upendra Limaye) from his capture.

The thing is Prithvi is the only one who knows where Shaitaan Singh’s hidden treasure lays, and Guddu’s desperate need for wealth stems from wanting to build a future with his single-mother girlfriend Aaliya (Esha Gupta) and win over her children, Amaira (Akshara Padwal) and Aarav (Riyansh Dabhi), who still mourn their late father. Elsewhere, the ever-ambitious Lallan (Riteish Deshmukh) dreams of living an ‘extra-large’ life by marrying into riches, only to blunder into wedlock with a heavy set women called Paaro (Anjali Anand) by mistakenly believing her father is wealthy.

At the same time, Adi (Arshad Warsi) and his dimwitted brother Manav (Jaaved Jaaferi)scramble to win back Adi’s estranged wife Rosy (Sanjeeda Shaikh), who fled the marriage thanks to the constant chaos created by Manav’s dangerous antics. However, when Prithvi, in his final moments, reveals the treasure’s secret, Guddu isn’t the only one listening. Soon, Lallan, Adi, Manav, Johnny, Rosy, Paaro, and even the children are swept into the chase. What follows is a madcap pursuit across land and sea — three rival groups racing toward hidden gold, colliding in a whirlwind of misunderstandings, slapstick chaos, and outrageous twists.

Though Indra Kumar is still remembered for his 90s romances, he has carved out a second career as a specialist in loud, situational comedy. Unlike his risqué Masti films, however, he keeps the tone here firmly family-friendly, leaning on slapstick and physical gags that make the film accessible to children as well.

Nostalgic nods to earlier installments are sprinkled in, sure to delight longtime fans. The screenplay by Paritosh Painter, Balvinder Singh Suri, Vedd Prakash, and Bunty Rathore ensures the first half moves briskly — packed with confusion, humor, and energetic set pieces that keep the entertainment quotient high.

But once the narrative shifts into treasure-hunt mode, the jungle adventure and island setting sap some of the comic spark. Chase sequences drag on, jokes begin to repeat, and the writing rarely ventures into fresh territory. Not every gag lands, and exaggerated humor dominates, which may alienate some viewers. More troubling is the treatment of female characters. Paaro becomes the butt of relentless fat-shaming jokes — her weight exaggerated to absurd extremes, while she continues to worship her selfish husband despite his disdain. Rosy, meanwhile, is vilified for wanting out of a marriage where she is literally set on fire, thrown out of a window, and nearly drowned. Her desire to survive is framed as betrayal, exposing the film’s dated gender politics.

Technically, the weakest link is the visual effects. Lions, crocodiles, and storm sequences are rendered with glaringly artificial green-screen work. In an era of polished spectacle, such underwhelming VFX diminish the film’s impact.

Yet despite its predictable screenplay and glaring flaws, the film remains buoyed by its ensemble. The cast’s comic chemistry keeps the madness afloat, ensuring that even when the writing falters, the performances deliver enough spark to keep audiences engaged.

Ajay Devgn anchors the film with his trademark confidence, while Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi remain the beating heart of the franchise. Their impeccable comic timing, paired with Sanjeeda Shaikh’s lively presence, delivers several sequences that remind audiences why these characters continue to be fan favorites. Sanjay Mishra, as always, elevates the narrative with effortless humor, turning even throwaway moments into highlights.

Riteish Deshmukh throws himself into the role of the loud, greedy hustler, chasing shortcuts to success with manic energy. Newcomer Anjali Anand makes a strong impression despite the problematic writing of her character. Ravi Kishan extends his impressive run with another spirited turn, while Esha Gupta, Upendra Limaye, and the ever-reliable Vijay Patkar handle their parts with ease. Child actors Akshara Padwal and Riyansh Dabhi bring likability to their roles. On the whole, ‘Dhamaal 4‘ is a predictable yet fun popcorn entertainer that works only when logic is left outside.