The heist genre has always thrived on one simple formula: controlled suspense, precise execution, and morally complex characters. JEWEL THIEF: THE HEIST BEGINS (2025), directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, approaches this formula with a lavish aesthetic and ambitious scale. Yet beneath the polished surface lies a hollow film — unable to evoke real emotion or tell a memorable story — and ultimately joins Netflix’s growing collection of soulless productions.
The setup promises much: Rehan (Saif Ali Khan), a master con artist, plots an audacious diamond heist while playing a dangerous game against Rajan (Jaideep Ahlawat), his merciless adversary.
It should have been a chess match of wits, betrayal, and rising tension. Instead, the story plods along predictably, with no real escalation of stakes or surprising twists. Every move feels telegraphed, every "heist planning" montage perfunctory. The script flirts with emotional conflict but never dares to explore it, leaving its characters mechanically ticking through the plot, devoid of inner life or contradictions.
Saif Ali Khan moves gracefully through the role of Rehan, but his character remains emotionally vacant — a stylish mask with no face behind it. Jaideep Ahlawat, ever magnetic, tries to inject menace into a villain written with the subtlety of a cartoon. Supporting actors like Nikita Dutta and Kunal Kapoor drift across the screen, shackled by a script that never allows them to resonate.
Visually, JEWEL THIEF is striking. Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s cinematography captures the glittering chaos of Mumbai, the exotic allure of Istanbul, and the regal charm of Budapest with a refined, cinematic eye. Every frame is meticulously curated to radiate opulence and modernity. But beauty alone cannot save a film without a beating heart. The score, while serviceable, lacks a distinct identity and never amplifies the emotional beats — and the end-credits song is as forgettable as the story itself.
Directors Gulati and Grewal manage to keep the pace brisk but mistake movement for momentum. There’s no clear thematic compass guiding the film: is it a redemption arc, a meditation on loyalty and betrayal, or simply a slick crime caper? JEWEL THIEF chooses none and flirts clumsily with all. What remains is a film that, though rarely dull, feels inert and soulless — a hollow echo of far better heist movies.
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In the end: JEWEL THIEF is a textbook case of style over substance. For audiences seeking sharp storytelling, emotional intelligence, and real tension, this polished but empty exercise will offer little satisfaction. If a truly engaging Indian heist film is what you’re after, look no further than the exhilarating DHOOM saga — a franchise that understands that flash must be grounded in genuine narrative flair.