Dhoom 3

The plot centers on Sahir (Aamir Khan), a circus performer who, with his twin brother (also played by Khan), robs banks in Chicago to fund a scheme to expose the bank that drove his father to suicide. The police, led by Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) and Ali (Uday Chopra), are called in to investigate. The film was shot extensively in Chicago and Mumbai, with several high-octane action sequences, including a chase on the Chicago River and a motorcycle stunt on the rooftops of the city. The production budget was estimated at ₹100 crore, making it one of the most expensive Bollywood films at the time.¹

The soundtrack was composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The song "Malang" became a chartbuster and was widely popular. Critics gave mixed reviews: while praising the performances and visual spectacle, many criticized the plot for being derivative of Hollywood films like The Prestige and Now You See Me. Despite the mixed critical response, the film broke several box office records, including the highest opening day collection for a Bollywood film at the time, and went on to gross over ₹548 crore worldwide.²

Dhoom 3 solidified the franchise's status as a major action brand in Indian cinema. It was the first Bollywood film to be released in the IMAX format, and its success led to increased international distribution of Bollywood films. The film also sparked debates about the use of VFX and stunt work, with Aamir Khan performing many of his own stunts. The character of Sahir became iconic, and the film's climax, which involves a twist regarding the twin brother, was widely discussed. The film's box office performance was seen as a milestone for the industry, demonstrating the global reach of Hindi cinema.³

Several behind-the-scenes details are less known. The film's title was initially rumored to be Dhoom: Reloaded, but was later confirmed as Dhoom 3. Aamir Khan underwent extensive training in parkour and gymnastics to perform the stunts. The Chicago setting was chosen to give the film a global appeal, and the production team received special permission to shoot at the Chicago Board of Trade building. The film's villain, Sahir, was originally written as a single character, but the twin twist was added during scripting to add depth. Additionally, the film's climax was shot in a single continuous take, a rarity in Bollywood action films.⁴

Bollywood

The Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India.

IMAX

A large-format film technology that provides higher resolution and a larger screen.