Saif Ali Khan dusts off his suave thief persona in Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, a glossy caper that nods to classic Bollywood espionage while chasing Hollywood flair. Directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, this Hindi action thriller unfolds in opulent vaults and shadowy deals. Released straight to Netflix in April 2025, it skips theaters for streaming glory, amassing millions of views amid mixed cheers. Jaideep Ahlawat’s menacing foil adds bite to Saif’s charm offensive. In a sea of spy reboots, does this diamond dash dazzle or disappoint? Our Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins movie review cracks the safe—unveiling twists, turns, and the glint of genuine thrills.
Movie Overview
Snapshot of essentials in this table:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Movie Title | Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins |
| Release Date | April 25, 2025 |
| Language and Genre | Hindi, Heist Action Thriller |
| Director | Kookie Gulati, Robbie Grewal |
| Producer | Sharan Modhwalia, Sidharth Sengupta |
| Production House | Emmay Entertainment |
| Running Time | 2 hours 8 minutes |
| Budget (Approx.) | ₹50 crore |
| Box Office Collection (Approx.) | N/A (Direct-to-OTT Release) |
As a Netflix exclusive, it bypassed box office battles but clocked 16.1 million global views in two weeks, crowning it 2025’s top Indian streamer so far.
Cast and Crew
Gulati and Grewal assemble a sleek squad for high-stakes sleight-of-hand. Bullet breakdown:
- Saif Ali Khan as Rehan Rathee: The cunning con artist plotting the ultimate score. Khan’s silver-fox swagger dominates.
- Jaideep Ahlawat as Rajan Narsinghani: The ruthless kingpin holding the strings. Ahlawat’s intensity electrifies.
- Nikita Dutta as Shamili Khan: Rehan’s enigmatic partner-in-crime. Dutta’s poise adds allure.
- Kunal Kapoor as Vikrant Gahlot: The tech-savvy insider with divided loyalties. Kapoor’s subtlety intrigues.
- Shilpa Shetty Kundra as Sophia: A glamorous fence in the underworld. Shetty’s cameo sizzles briefly.
- Johnny Lever as Lallan: The comic-relief fixer. Lever lightens tense tails.
Shilpa Shetty’s cameo nods to nostalgia; no major debuts. Standouts? Ahlawat’s chilling charisma and Khan’s effortless elegance—they turn tropes into triumphs.
Storyline / Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins catapults viewers into a world of glittering gambles. Rehan, a master thief with a code, takes on the impossible: swiping the legendary Red Sun diamond from an impenetrable fort. Backed by a ragtag crew, he navigates laser grids, double-crosses, and a sadistic foe who plays for keeps.
The theme? Trust’s fragile facets in a game where every shine hides a stab. Central conflict crackles in Rehan’s high-wire act—balancing precision with paranoia against an adversary who knows his every move. Emotional core simmers in the thrill of the chase clashing with personal stakes, where one slip spells ruin. Gulati and Grewal tease a labyrinth of lures without laying cards bare. It’s a velvet-gloved vice grip, perfect for pulse-quick fans craving clever cons.
Direction, Screenplay, and Editing
The directorial duo blends Gulati’s taut tension with Grewal’s visual verve, crafting a heist homage that pulses with polish. Their vision gleams like the prize gem—urban opulence masking moral murk. Storytelling snakes through setups and switches, echoing Ocean’s Eleven with desi dazzle.
Screenplay by Gulati and Sumit Arora sparkles with snappy banter; dialogues drip wit, from sly asides to showdown snarls. Pacing glides in prep phases but hitches during plot pivots. Editing by Aarif Sheikh slices slickly, deploying split-screens for multi-angle maneuvers. Unique gem? Nonlinear “heist rehearsals” that replay botched bids, building irony organically. It’s a stylish steer, though seams show in the script’s shine.
Cinematography, Visuals, and Music
Dimo Popov’s camera caresses with cool elegance: vaulted vaults glow in emerald greens, night chases streak neon blues. Dynamic dollies chase cons across casinos; overheads map meticulous maps. VFX polishes perils—holographic hacks and explosive escapes—without garish glow.
Vishal-Shekhar’s score slinks with jazzy undertones, syncing to stealthy strides. Songs like “Diamond Eyes” fuse electronica hooks for montage magic, while “Thief’s Tango” teases tango tension. Background pulses—sultry sax in shadows—heighten heist highs. Visuals and music mingle for seductive suspense: lavish lenses lure, rhythms ratchet risks. They cloak clichés in charisma, making mishaps mesmerizing.
Performances
Saif Ali Khan slinks into Rehan with rakish relish—his smirks and sleights sell the sophisticate, blending vulnerability with vim. A vault-side vulnerability? Velvet-voiced gold. Jaideep Ahlawat devours as Rajan: his hooded eyes and hushed threats ooze overlord menace, a villain who villains envy.
Nikita Dutta’s Shamili simmers with sharp sensuality, her glances guarding guarded hearts. Kunal Kapoor’s Vikrant layers loyalty with lament, adding arc depth. Chemistry crackles in Rehan-Rajan rivalries—cat-and-mouse mind games mesmerize. Shilpa Shetty’s Sophia sprinkles sparkle; Johnny Lever’s Lallan lands laughs lightly. Powerful peak? A dimly lit deal gone awry—tension thickens, truths tumble. The leads’ synergy steals the show.
Audience and Critics’ Response
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins splits safes: style seduces, substance sighs. Critics clock charm but critique convolutions; streamers savor the spectacle. Ratings table:
| Platform | Rating |
|---|---|
| IMDb | 5.8/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Critics) | 45% |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Audience) | 69% |
| Google Users | 65% liked it |
Sentiment skews stylishly split. Bollywood Hungama (3/5) calls it “fun-filled frolic,” while Hindustan Times (2.5/5) dubs it “time-thief without thrill.” Social scrolls sparkle with Saif memes; Twitter twists plot teases. According to online discussions on Movierulz and other film forums, users have been actively debating the film’s storyline twists and Jaideep Ahlawat’s magnetic menace. Netflix’s viewership vault propelled it to global top charts, fueling fan fervor.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Stellar Showdown: Ahlawat and Khan’s duel delivers delicious drama, elevating ensemble energy.
- Visual Vault: Popov’s lensing and Vishal-Shekhar’s vibes craft a caper canvas that’s catnip for eyes and ears.
- Witty Whisks: Arora’s quips quicken the pulse, infusing heist haze with humorous heat.
Weaknesses:
- Plot Polish Lacking: Twists tangle without tightening, leaving logic loose ends.
- Pacing Pilfers: Mid-heist meanders mute the momentum, testing viewer vigilance.
These flaws fleck the facets but don’t fully fracture the fun.
Final Verdict
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins lifts lids on lavish larceny—a shiny sleight that’s more sparkle than substance, yet slyly satisfying. Gulati and Grewal gift a glossy getaway for guilty-pleasure nights. Heist hounds and Saif sympathizers will swipe right; plot purists, pass. My rating: 6.5/10. Stream for the swag, not the safe-crack.