Jewel Thief Review: Gorgeous Backdrops, Loud Dialogues & A Plot That Loses Its Way
Star Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nikita Dutta, Kunal Kapoor
Director: Kookie Gulati, Robbie Grewal
Language: Hindi
Streaming On: Netflix
Duration: 116 minutes
When you think of a thrilling heist film, you expect sleek action, clever twists, and compelling characters. Jewel Thief, starring Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Nikita Dutta, offers a promising premise but unfortunately gets lost in a maze of exaggerated storytelling and logic-defying sequences.
What Works:
Jaideep Ahlawat’s performance is undeniably the highlight. He brings intensity and flair to a character that otherwise feels like a caricature.
The cinematography and locations are breathtaking. Visually, the film is a treat.
A few action sequences and the song ‘Jaadu Sa’ (thanks to Jaideep’s surprising dance moves) offer momentary entertainment.
What Doesn’t:
The list is long, but let’s begin with the script—which feels like it was patched together with every heist movie cliché in the book. Despite the glossy production, the plot lacks basic coherence.
Over-the-top scenes like a plane heist and mid-air disguises push the envelope of believability far too much, even for a masala film.
Saif Ali Khan’s character, Rehan, is a master thief, a hacker, a lover, and a street fighter—all rolled into one—but without any plausible explanation of how he manages to stay ahead of everyone, including a dedicated cop.
The romantic subplot between Saif and Nikita’s character lacks depth and spark.
Kunal Kapoor, as the persistent officer, feels underutilized and poorly written—almost like a lesser version of an already familiar cop trope from earlier Bollywood films.
Plot Summary:
Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), a skilled thief with a shadowy past, is coerced into one final job by art dealer-cum-gangster Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat), who threatens the life of Rehan’s estranged father. While evading relentless cop Vikram (Kunal Kapoor), Rehan also finds himself falling for Farrah (Nikita Dutta), Aulakh’s wife trapped in an abusive relationship. The story moves through heists, betrayals, and ill-conceived plot twists as Rehan tries to stay a step ahead of both the law and his enemies.
Performance Check:
Saif Ali Khan looks dapper but sleepwalks through the role. His character lacks emotional gravity, and his disinterest shows.
Nikita Dutta is elegant, but her underwritten character gives her little room to make an impression.
Kunal Kapoor deserved a more fleshed-out role. His character’s repeated failures quickly become repetitive.
Jaideep Ahlawat is the silver lining. He delivers with conviction, bringing menace and charm in equal measure, even when the script lets him down.
Direction and Music:
Directors Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal try to create a stylish heist thriller, but the story ends up being too hollow to carry its ambitions. The predictable tropes—a troubled past, a villain’s glamorous wife, a last-minute twist—are all there, but none are elevated with smart writing.
Music-wise, the film doesn’t offer much that stays with you, except for Jaadu Sa, which owes its appeal largely to Jaideep’s surprise moves rather than its musical merit.
Final Verdict:
Jewel Thief had the right cast and visual flair but collapses under the weight of its own over-ambition and absurd plot points. If you’re looking for a logic-light film to pass the time, maybe give it a go. Otherwise, you’re better off skipping this one—unless you’re just there to enjoy Jaideep Ahlawat’s powerful presence.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
