Vivek Oberoi
CBI Officer Amjad Khan
Overview
A comic-caper, that tells the story of 3 morons trying to rob a bank who pick the worst day possible when everything that can go wrong, goes wrong and how they're inadvertently caught in the crossfire.
Cast
7 people
Reviews
4 min readA Heist So Bad It’s Almost a Crime Against Comedy
I’ll admit it: I went into Bank Chor expecting a trainwreck. The tagline alone—"A Haathi, A Ghoda & A Baba Walk Into A Bank..."—sounded like the setup for a joke that never lands. And, well, that’s kind of what this movie is. A joke that never lands. But here’s the thing: sometimes, the trainwreck is the point.
The premise is simple enough. Three idiots—played by Riteish Deshmukh, Rhea Chakraborty, and Sahil Vaid—decide to rob a bank on the worst possible day. Everything that can go wrong does, and they end up trapped in a hostage situation that spirals into absurdity.
It’s Dog Day Afternoon meets Home Alone, if both films were directed by someone who’d only seen the trailers. The problem isn’t the chaos; it’s that the chaos never feels intentional. It’s like watching a clown car crash in slow motion, and the clowns keep forgetting to honk.
Bumpy, the director, clearly wanted this to be a farce. The film’s opening credits play over a series of increasingly ridiculous heist-gone-wrong scenarios, as if to say, "Look how clever we are!" But cleverness requires precision, and Bank Chor is all over the place. One minute, it’s a slapstick comedy with characters slipping on banana peels (metaphorically, at least).
The next, it’s trying to be a thriller, with a bank manager (Vivek Oberoi) delivering a monologue about the fragility of trust. The tonal whiplash isn’t just jarring—it’s exhausting.
And yet. There’s something weirdly compelling about the film’s sheer audacity. It’s the kind of movie that doesn’t just fail; it fails spectacularly.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 5.2/10
"A chaotic but occasionally entertaining comedy-thriller that struggles to balance humor and suspense effectively."
The film’s slapstick humor and energetic performances, particularly from Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi, provide moments of amusement, but the uneven tone and predictable plot leave many viewers underwhelmed. latestnetflix.com's read is that the attempt to blend comedy with a heist thriller often feels disjointed, with some gags landing while others fall flat.
What viewers praise
- Energetic performances Riteish Deshmukh and Vivek Oberoi bring high energy and comedic timing, making their characters engaging despite the script’s flaws.
- Amusing slapstick moments Some physical comedy and over-the-top scenarios manage to elicit laughs, particularly in the film’s more absurd sequences.
- Lighthearted fun For those seeking a mindless, goofy comedy, the film delivers occasional entertainment without demanding much investment.
Common complaints
- Uneven tone The mix of comedy and thriller elements feels forced, with the humor often undercutting any tension the plot attempts to build.
- Predictable plot The heist storyline follows familiar tropes without adding enough originality or surprises to stand out.
- Weak character development Supporting characters, including Rhea Chakraborty’s role, lack depth, making it hard to care about their fates.
- Inconsistent humor Many jokes miss the mark, leaving long stretches where the comedy feels forced or out of place.
Recommended for
Fans of slapstick comedy Riteish Deshmukh enthusiasts Light heist-movie viewers Casual Bollywood comedy lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe Chaotic Behind-the-Scenes Story of Bank Chor (2017)
Bank Chor, the 2017 Hindi black comedy directed by Bumpy, promised a wild ride—a heist gone hilariously wrong. But behind the scenes, the film’s journey was just as messy as its plot. latestnetflix.com's read is that From last-minute casting switches to mixed reviews, here’s what really went down during the making of this Y-Films production.
A Casting Carousel: Kapil Sharma’s Exit and Vivek Oberoi’s Return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q4TLngEF3o
One of the biggest pre-release talking points was the film’s casting drama. Originally, comedian Kapil Sharma was slated to star in Bank Chor, but he dropped out before filming began . The reason? Unconfirmed reports suggest creative differences or scheduling conflicts—though neither side confirmed details. His exit left a gap that Vivek Oberoi quickly filled, marking his return to Yash Raj Films after a 15-year hiatus 
.
Oberoi’s comeback was a notable moment. He hadn’t worked with YRF since Saathiya (2002), and his role as a bank manager caught in the middle of a botched robbery added star power to the ensemble. Riteish Deshmukh and Rhea Chakraborty led the trio of bumbling robbers, with Sahil Vaid, Bhuvan Arora, and others rounding out the cast 
.
The Vijay Mallya Rumor: A PR Storm
Before Bank Chor hit theaters, whispers swirled that the film was inspired by fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya’s high-profile bank fraud case. The timing was suspicious—Mallya had fled India in 2016 amid allegations of defaulting on loans worth over ₹9,000 crore, and Bank Chor’s premise of a bank heist gone wrong fueled speculation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxynyg6a-to
Oberoi himself shut down the rumors in a video interview, clarifying that the film was purely fictional and not based on any real-life events . Still, the controversy likely gave the movie extra buzz ahead of its June 16, 2017, release .
Critical Reception: A Comedy That Missed the Mark
Despite the hype, Bank Chor mostly disappointed critics. Reviews called it a "messy" comedy with a premise that didn’t live up to its potential . The film’s slapstick humor and chaotic tone failed to resonate, and audiences seemed underwhelmed by the trio of robbers’ antics.
The plot—three inept criminals picking the worst possible day to rob a bank—had promise, but execution fell flat. Even the star power of Oberoi and Deshmukh couldn’t salvage the film’s weak script . While it had its moments, Bank Chor ultimately became a cautionary tale about overhyping a concept without strong writing to back it up.
The Verdict: A Forgotten Flop?
Bank Chor wasn’t a complete disaster—it had its share of laughs and a solid cast—but it failed to leave a lasting impact. The film’s production quirks (like Sharma’s exit) and off-screen drama (the Mallya rumors) generated more headlines than the movie itself. In the end, it joined the long list of Bollywood comedies that couldn’t quite stick the landing.
For fans of Oberoi and Deshmukh, it was a rare team-up worth watching, but for everyone else, Bank Chor remains a footnote in 2017’s cinematic lineup.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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