Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Review: Saif Ali Khan & Jaideep Ahlawat Shine in This Campy, Fun Caper
Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat lead Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins, a Netflix heist thriller that’s more fun than fierce. Read our review of this silly, smart, and stylish ride.
🎬 Introduction: A Heist That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously
In a cinematic era stuffed with hyper-serious nationalism and politically-charged storytelling, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins feels refreshingly light. Directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal and produced by Siddharth Anand, this Netflix release doesn’t aim for depth or social commentary—it simply wants to entertain. And guess what? It mostly does.
🧨 Plot: A Diamond, a Plan, and a Bunch of Absurd Twists
The film opens with a classic setup: an African diamond named Red Sun, a museum with Silicon Valley-designed security, and a flamboyant art thief ready to pull off the impossible.
Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan) is the charming chor-for-hire, tasked by Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat)—a ruthless art collector and casual torturer—to steal the coveted gem. Throw in a determined cop (Kunal Kapoor), a damsel-in-distress (Nikita Dutta), and some overly high-tech gadgets (yes, there are laser beams and sleep-inducing pens), and you’ve got a heist recipe that’s more masala than Mission: Impossible.
👥 Cast & Characters: Style Meets Swagger
Saif Ali Khan brings back his vintage charm—cool, cheeky, and just a touch mischievous.
Jaideep Ahlawat is all menace and muscle, delivering punchlines with punches.
Kunal Kapoor as the serious cop adds grounding to the chaos.
Nikita Dutta is more trope than character, but fulfills the “glamorous ally” role adequately.
The chemistry between Saif and Jaideep is electric. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic keeps the story engaging, even when the logic takes frequent coffee breaks.
🎭 Tone & Direction: A Throwback to Filmy Fun
Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins echoes the style of Abbas-Mustan thrillers from the early 2000s and Salim-Javed anti-hero masala from the 70s. Think laser beams, disguises, dramatic father-son drama, and a villain named Moosa. It’s over-the-top, illogical at times, but intentionally so.
There are one-liners, old-school face-offs, and lines like:
“Na desh ki seema ho, na border ka ho bandhan… udayenge Red Sun in the gagan.”
If that doesn’t scream Bollywood heist nostalgia, nothing will.
🎯 What Works
Fun-filled performances, especially from Saif and Jaideep
No preachy undertones – pure genre entertainment
Clever dialogues & humorous moments
Slick visuals and well-staged set pieces
❌ What Doesn’t
Plot lacks realism (but maybe that’s the point?)
Some jokes and scenes are borderline absurd
Character depth is sacrificed for speed and style
Nikita Dutta’s role feels underwritten
🧩 Verdict: Watch It for the Vibe, Not the Logic
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins isn’t aiming to win awards or start conversations. It’s here to entertain, crack jokes, toss in some twists, and vanish with a grin. While it may not redefine the heist genre, it’s certainly a fun pitstop for anyone missing the charm of older Bollywood thrillers with a modern Netflix touch.
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