Dhoom 2

Overview

Dhoom 2 (also stylised as Dhoom:2 and subtitled Back in Action) is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Sanjay Gadhvi and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. It is the second instalment in the Dhoom franchise and a sequel to Dhoom (2004). The film stars Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Uday Chopra and Bipasha Basu, and was released theatrically on 24 November 2006.

Key facts

Plot and setting

The film follows ACP Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) and his sidekick Ali (Uday Chopra), who are tasked with apprehending a high-profile international thief codenamed Mr. A (Hrithik Roshan). The thief targets prized historical and royal artefacts across multiple countries. Aided by officer Shonali Bose (Bipasha Basu) and complicated by the arrival of a small-time crook named Sunehri (Aishwarya Rai), the chase moves through locations across India and abroad. Significant portions were shot in Mumbai, Rajasthan, Rio de Janeiro and Durban.

Production

Dhoom 2 was developed as a larger-scale follow-up to the commercially successful first film. The screenplay was written by Vijay Krishna Acharya, who would later direct the third instalment. Action and stunt sequences, including bike chases, parachuting and a desert train robbery, were choreographed with an emphasis on Hollywood-style set pieces. The film notably introduced Hrithik Roshan as the franchise's antagonist, replacing John Abraham who had played the villain in the first film.

Music

The soundtrack was composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Sameer. The album included the songs "Dhoom Again", "Crazy Kiya Re", "Touch Me", "My Name Is Ali" and "Don't Touch Me". The title track and "Crazy Kiya Re" became widely popular and were nominated at multiple Indian film awards.

Release and reception

Dhoom 2 was released on 24 November 2006 across India and in international markets. It opened to strong box-office numbers and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2006. The film received a generally positive response for its visual style, action sequences, music and the performances of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, although some critics noted weaknesses in plot logic.

Awards

The film received several nominations at major Indian film award ceremonies, including the Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards and Screen Awards. Hrithik Roshan won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance, and Pritam received recognition for the music. The film also won technical honours in choreography and action.

Significance

Dhoom 2 is regarded as a landmark in mainstream Hindi action cinema for its emphasis on stylised cinematography, international locations and high-concept stunts. It expanded the Dhoom series into a major Yash Raj Films franchise and helped popularise the convention of casting a leading male star as the antagonist in Indian action films. The on-screen pairing of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai received considerable attention. The film's commercial success directly led to the production of Dhoom 3 (2013).

Cast

• Hrithik Roshan as Aryan / Mr. A
• Abhishek Bachchan as ACP Jai Dixit
• Aishwarya Rai as Sunehri
• Uday Chopra as Ali Akbar Fateh Khan
• Bipasha Basu as Shonali Bose / Monali Bose (dual role)

Related topics

• Dhoom
• Dhoom 3
• Yash Raj Films
• Aditya Chopra
• Sanjay Gadhvi
• Hrithik Roshan
• Abhishek Bachchan
• Aishwarya Rai
• Pritam
• Hindi cinema

References

• Yash Raj Films official film catalogue.
• Filmfare Awards records, 2007 ceremony.
• Contemporary reviews and reports in Indian film publications, 2006–2007.