Chandramohan Manohar Sharma, famously known as Charlie (Shah Rukh Khan), is a determined street fighter consumed by the desire for vengeance against Charan Grover (Jackie Shroff), who wronged his family eight long years ago. The root of Charlie's enmity lies in an unjust incident where his father, Manohar Sharma (Anupam Kher), was falsely accused of theft due to Charan's cunning schemes involving the Mughal Diamonds. This malicious act led to Manohar's imprisonment, and since then, Charlie has been resolute in his quest for retribution.
As the pivotal moment approaches—marked by an announcement in the media about the arrival of world-renowned diamonds at the Atlantis Palm hotel on Christmas Eve—Charlie hatches a bold plan. The diamonds will be stored in Grover's Shalimar vault (a vault constructed by none other than his father) for a fleeting night. Determined to frame Grover for theft, Charlie sets out to assemble an eclectic team of misfits.
First on his list is Jagmohan Prakash, affectionately called Jag (Sonu Sood), whose profound loyalty is matched by his hearing impairment and rage at any disparagement toward his mother. Next is Tehntroman Irani, known as Tammy (Boman Irani), an overweight jogger battling epilepsy, who once served as a test engineer in Manohar's factory. With a shared desire for vengeance against Grover, their bond grows since he was also Manohar’s closest ally. Completing the ensemble is the tech-savvy Rohan Singh (Vivaan Shah), a young hacker and Jag's nephew, whose skills are crucial in breaching the vault's advanced security systems.
Upon thorough reconnaissance of the vault’s security measures, the group uncovers that it is protected by a bio-metric lock, accessible only by Vicky Grover, Charan’s son. To navigate this obstacle, they recruit Nandu Bhide (Abhishek Bachchan), a lookalike willing to impersonate Vicky, motivated by urgent financial needs for his mother's surgery. Charlie jovially describes his unconventional crew: "Ek all time Bewda (Nandu), Ek Sanki Jadeya (Tammy), Ek Bhari Banduk (Jag), Ek Badmaash Bachcha (Rohan)."
Their plot thickens as they gather in a warehouse, reminiscent of their former workshop, for a rehearsal. It’s here that Tammy's deep affection for the Shalimar vault is unveiled; he alone holds the original combination to its security. However, this vault is not without its challenges, including a laser shield that requires a daily changing code. Their investigation reveals a significant access route through the Atlantis hotel’s underground sewer system, linking it to room 9C, which is only accessible during the World Dance Championship (WDC), happening simultaneously with the diamond’s placement in the vault. Ironically, none of the team possesses the skill to dance.
The narrative gradually unveils a darker truth: Manohar’s engineering prowess led him to collaborate with Charan Grover, a dealer in African diamonds. After entrusting Grover with the construction of an impenetrable vault, the unthinkable happened—Grover betrayed Manohar, drugged him, and manipulated the situation to frame him for the theft of the highly coveted diamonds nestled within. The impending dance competition thus becomes a complex web of subterfuge as Charlie desperately seeks a chance to set things right.
In their quest to learn dance, the crew seeks help from Mohini Joshi (Deepika Padukone), a spirited bar dancer who aspires to open her own dance school. As she trains them, the dynamic between Charlie and Mohini blossoms, leading to unexpected romantic feelings. Their initial attempts to qualify for the competition are humorous and fraught with tension; they even resort to blackmailing judges concerning their hidden relationship to secure a chance in the contest.
Despite attracting disdain from the audience and teams alike, especially from Grover, their integrity and teamwork shine when Charlie saves a child during the first round, earning them respect on a global scale. As competition unfolds, their resolve intricately intertwines with the narrative of revenge and redemption. As revelations unfold regarding Manohar’s tragic fate—his suicide—a fire ignites within the team to avenge him, driving Mohini to join their cause.
The night of the finals arrives, and the heist is orchestrated amid the competition frenzy. Through clever planning, Mohini distracts Vicky, while Jag and Nandu take decisive actions to gain access to the vault. However, the stakes heighten as Tammy succumbs to an epileptic fit right as they are on the cusp of cracking the vault code, yet they manage to open it in the nick of time. The pressure mounts when they encounter yet another glass safe containing the diamonds, and it's a race against time to escape with their prize.
On the precipice of victory, as Charlie orchestrates their escape, the group encounters their share of moral dilemmas. Grover soon realizes he has been outsmarted, and in an unexpected twist, the theft and ensuing competition collaborate to reveal the truth about Team India. In a climactic showdown, Charlie not only unveils his identity but secures both the diamonds and their honor, delivering a profound conclusion to an arduous quest.
In the wake of triumph, as Charlie navigates the complexities of redemption, the diamonds turn out to be cleverly camouflaged, leading to a tender moment wherein he proposes to Mohini with a diamond ring, thus completing their heartfelt journey amid the chaos of dance and deception. As Mohini opens her dance school, the film culminates in a celebration of love, resilience, and retribution.
