Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins (2025) Movie ft. Jaideep and Kookie
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins is a 2025 Hindi heist thriller directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal. Produced by Marflix Pictures, it stars Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Nikita Dutta and Kunal Kapoor. The film premiered on Netflix on April 25, 2025.
Plot and Story
Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), an expert jewel thief, lives in hiding in Budapest. His quiet life changes when his younger brother brings shocking news about their father being in danger. A powerful art collector, Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat), forces Rehan into stealing the Red Sun diamond worth Rs. 500 crores.
The story takes viewers across multiple locations including Budapest, Istanbul, and Mumbai. It follows familiar heist movie patterns where the protagonist is forced into one last job to save his family.
Cast Performance
Saif Ali Khan as Rehan Roy
Saif Ali Khan brings his signature charm to the role of the master thief. His performance gives a nice throwback to his memorable roles in films like Race. Khan looks dashing and delivers a first-rate performance within the script’s limitations.
Jaideep Ahlawat as Rajan Aulakh
Jaideep Ahlawat is brilliant as the villain, as always. The character needed an actor of his caliber and he delivers impressively. However, critics felt the film underuses Ahlawat’s potential by not giving his character enough depth.
Supporting Cast
Nikita Dutta delivers a sincere performance as Farah, Rehan’s love interest. Kunal Kapoor plays detective Vikram Patel decently but is let down by weak writing. The supporting cast includes Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Gagan Arora among others.
Direction and Technical Aspects
Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal’s direction is entertaining. They position the film in the zone of movies like Dhoom and Fast & Furious. From the start, they make it clear this is a film where you need to keep logic aside.
Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s cinematography gives the film a big-screen appeal. The production design is rich and costumes are appealing, especially those worn by Saif Ali Khan and Nikita Dutta. The action sequences are exciting without being too gory.
My Review Perspective
I found the film to be a mixed bag. While it delivers on visual spectacle and star power, the script feels disappointingly familiar. The heist sequences look polished, but I’ve seen these plot points executed better in other films.
What I appreciated was the chemistry between Saif and Jaideep during their confrontation scenes. Both actors bring their A-game, but I wished the script had given them more substantial material to work with.
The film’s biggest letdown for me was its lack of originality. It feels like a collection of scenes borrowed from better heist movies, without adding anything fresh to the genre.
Critical Reception and Ratings
The film received poor critical reviews across platforms. Hindustan Times gave it 1 out of 5 stars. The Indian Express rated it 1/5 stars. Rotten Tomatoes shows a lowly 8% score. IMDB ratings stand at 4.1 out of 10.
Critics consistently pointed to the weak screenplay and derivative storytelling as major issues. Many compared it unfavorably to better heist films from both Hollywood and Bollywood.
Public Response
Despite poor reviews, the film became a global hit on Netflix. It topped charts in 56 countries, showing strong viewer engagement. Social media reactions were mixed, with fans excited about the Saif vs Jaideep face-off but disappointed by the execution.
What Worked
Visual appeal and production values deserve praise. The international locations and rich cinematography give it a premium feel. Star performances, especially from the lead duo, provide entertainment value. The film works as light entertainment for viewers seeking familiar thrills.
What Didn’t Work
The weak script relies heavily on clichéd heist movie tropes. Character development is shallow, particularly for supporting roles. The romantic subplot feels forced and unnecessary. Lack of originality makes it feel like a rehash of better films.
Bottom Line
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins is a glossy but hollow heist thriller. While it boasts impressive production values and talented actors, it falls short due to uninspired writing and execution that prioritizes style over substance.
I’d recommend it for fans of the lead actors or those seeking mindless entertainment. However, if you’re expecting a clever, well-crafted heist thriller, this one might steal your time without delivering the promised excitement.
The film succeeds as a streaming option for casual viewing but fails to achieve the sophistication needed for a memorable heist caper. With franchise ambitions clearly established, future installments will need significant improvements in storytelling to win both critics and audiences.
Final Rating: 2.5/5
