The Dhamaal franchise returned to cinemas hoping to deliver another round of chaos and comedy, but its opening-day box office numbers suggest the ride has begun on a steady rather than spectacular note. Led by Ajay Devgn alongside Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh and Jaaved Jaaferi, Dhamaal 4 released in theatres with plenty of nostalgia behind it. Even though the film managed a respectable first-day collection, it couldn’t match the benchmark set by its predecessor, Total Dhamaal. Mixed reviews from critics and audiences also seem to have influenced the opening-day momentum.
Dhamaal 4 posts a decent opening but misses franchise record
According to trade tracker Sacnilk, Dhamaal 4 earned ₹13.75 crore net in India on its opening day while playing across 10,669 shows nationwide. The collection gives the comedy entertainer a decent launch and places it among the stronger Bollywood openings in recent weeks. However, expectations were considerably higher because of the franchise’s popularity and its multi-star cast.
The Day 1 figure still falls short of Total Dhamaal, which had opened with ₹16.5 crore in 2019. The latest instalment also couldn’t overtake the reported opening of Welcome To The Jungle, another ensemble comedy that is said to have collected nearly ₹19 crore, including paid previews. The weekend will now be crucial, as comedy films often rely heavily on family audiences and positive word of mouth to maintain momentum after Friday.
Industry watchers will also be keeping an eye on Saturday and Sunday occupancy, especially in multiplex chains where the franchise traditionally performs well. If audience response improves over the weekend, the film still has enough room to recover and build a healthy first-week total despite its slower-than-expected start.
Familiar faces return for another treasure hunt
Directed by Indra Kumar, Dhamaal 4 serves as the direct sequel to Total Dhamaal and once again revolves around a treasure hunt. This time the mystery shifts from the famous “W ke neeche” to “M ke neeche”, while retaining the franchise’s signature slapstick humour, misunderstandings and over-the-top situations. The film has been produced by T-Series Films, Panorama Studios, Devgn Films, Maruti International and Anand Pandit Motion Pictures.
The film brings together an ensemble cast featuring Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Jaaved Jaaferi, Ravi Kishan, Sanjay Mishra, Upendra Limaye, Anjali Anand, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Esha Gupta and Vijay Patkar. Fans were especially excited to watch the original comic chemistry between Arshad, Riteish and Jaaved return to the big screen after several years. Their performances have once again emerged as one of the strongest talking points among moviegoers.
Mixed reviews put the spotlight on the weekend
Audience reactions after the first shows have been divided. While many viewers enjoyed the film’s old-school comedy and nostalgic callbacks, others felt the screenplay repeated ideas already seen in earlier entries of the franchise. Some criticism has also been directed at the excessive use of AI-generated visual shots, with several viewers saying it distracted from the overall experience.
At the same time, performances by Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra and Riteish Deshmukh have received widespread appreciation. Their comic timing and screen presence are being credited for delivering some of the film’s funniest moments even by viewers who weren’t fully convinced by the story. Ajay Devgn’s return to the franchise has also generated interest, helping the film secure a respectable opening despite the mixed reception.
One review from Hindustan Times offered a less enthusiastic verdict, stating, “Overall, for a film called Dhamaal, there’s little fun to be had. It recycles its story, music and even its brand of comedy, hoping nostalgia will do the heavy lifting. It doesn’t. The only thing buried under ‘M ke neeche’ is whatever made the first Dhamaal work.”
Before the release, actor Ravi Kishan had expressed strong confidence in the project during an interview with Hindustan Times. He said, “It will be madness. This is the era of comedy films, and I think Dhamaal 4 is going to do extremely well because it’s a very well-written film. All of its jokes will land, and even its songs are already doing well. The timing is perfect, and I can see the film becoming a massive hit.”
Whether Dhamaal 4 eventually lives up to those expectations will become much clearer over the next couple of days. The opening has given the film a solid foundation, but its long-term success will now depend on weekend growth and whether family audiences continue choosing it over competing releases.
