The original Dhamaal (2007) is a rare example of a blockbuster Bollywood film with and zero romantic storylines. The plot follows four "good-for-nothing" friends—Roy, Adi, Manav, and Boman—as they race against a police inspector, Kabir Nayak, to find hidden treasure in Goa.
: The film also hints at a partnership between Guddu (Ajay Devgn) and Prachi (Esha Gupta). Relationships in Spin-offs and Similar Titles
: Unlike the "fake" romances of the previous film, this storyline follows a long-married couple, Avinash and Bindu, who are on the verge of divorce.
In the third installment, Total Dhamaal , the franchise introduced a more traditional (yet comedic) romantic storyline with the addition of .
Analyzing "Dhamanda Dhamal" (often associated with the popular Indian film franchise) reveals a unique approach to romance: for much of its history, the series was famous for having almost no romantic storylines at all. While most Bollywood films center on love, the Dhamaal series initially carved its niche by focusing entirely on slapstick buddy comedy and treasure hunts.
: Instead of romance, the film centers on the dysfunctional "brotherly" bond between the four slackers.
: In this installment, romantic storylines are used as a tool for revenge. Roy (Riteish Deshmukh) disguises himself as "Tukiya" to woo Kiya.