BOTTOM LINE
Disastrous, Outdated Heist Thriller
RATING
1.5/5
PLATFORM
NETFLIX
What Is the Film About?
Rehan, a con artist, is forced by a gangster Rajan to steal a valuable diamond – The Red Sun – to save his dad. Meanwhile, Rajan’s wife, Farrah and Rehan are attracted to each other. A street-smart cop, Vikram, is on the hunt for Rehan. Rehan’s pursuit of the diamond gets trickier with time, as he tries to outsmart Rajan while dealing with his feelings for Farah. In the ultimate showdown, who has the last laugh?
Performances
The hackneyed script gives the capable cast very little to work with. Saif Ali Khan looks mostly disinterested, coasting through emotional beats with his natural charm but little commitment. Jaideep Ahlawat is a major disappointment; his character and dialogues feel stuck in a bygone era of 70s cinema.
Analysis
The OTT space was once imagined as a refreshing alternative to television, more personal than cinema, yet free from the limitations of prime-time drama. But in less than a decade of its boom in India, the space seems to have lost its edge. Today, it’s driven by metrics, franchises, and star power, with barely any regard for original or meaningful storytelling. Jewel Thief is a glaring proof of it.
This is the kind of film that Netflix should’ve never touched — a formulaic, soulless heist thriller that lifts tropes from every known Indian and Western film in the genre, hoping its star cast can cover up the cracks. The screenplay is uninspired, offering no real surprises or moments of cleverness; the mind games fall flat, and there’s little substance to latch on to.
Rehan, a con artist estranged from his family, is the prodigal son his father can’t bring himself to disown. A ruthless gangster, Rajan, forces him into stealing a high-profile diamond using emotional blackmail. What follows is a checklist of cardboard-thin characters — the anti-hero with a heart, the manic villain, a by-the-book cop, a troubled family member, and of course, the classic damsel in distress.
Jayant is the stern father, Avi the obedient younger brother, and Farrah the artist wife, stuck in a toxic marriage with a violent man. Rajan, meanwhile, kills people on a whim, apparently to assert dominance, though his menace never quite lands. Rehan is constantly presented as the brainy rogue, but it feels more told than shown. The least the film could do is stop taking itself so seriously.
The high-gloss, high-stakes setting feels utterly detached from reality. The villainy lacks imagination. The story, too bland to be gripping, simply ambles along with no urgency or buildup. Why should one care for the men on screen? What are they after? Moreover, is it any fun to watch it? It’s extremely disappointing to notice vast resources – acting, budget – going down the drain.
The actors, visibly worn out, sleepwalk through their lines, caught in scenes that are exaggerated and underwritten. While there’s nothing wrong with revisiting familiar genres, Jewel Thief shows no interest in reinventing or even refreshing them. The tacky VFX, tired performances, and unimaginative action sequences only add to the chaos.
While the second hour, set aboard a flight, provides slight relief, the ending feels too easy and rushed. The protagonist faces almost no real challenge. The cons are juvenile and lack depth. It’s disheartening to watch a film with names like Saif Ali Khan, Siddharth Anand, and Jaideep Ahlawat that doesn’t even try. The least the thief could have done is steal a better script.
Performances by Others Actors
Nikita Dutta seems perpetually lost as Farrah, though her confusion earns some sympathy. Kunal Kapoor’s Vikram Patel lacks spark, and the actor does little to elevate it. Kulbhushan Kharbanda’s experience can’t save his thinly written role. Gagan Arora (as Avi) and Loitongbam Dorendra Singh (Moosa) are equally underutilised.
Music and Other Departments?
Shezan Shaikh’s music does the bare minimum for the genre but never leaves an impression. Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s visual approach to the worn-out story feels flat. Poor VFX and generic colour choices only worsen the overall look. Sumit Arora’s dialogues are easily the weakest link, compounding the film’s many issues.
Highlights?
Nothing really
Drawbacks?
Stale plot
Terrible visuals, action
Poor performances, writing
Did I Enjoy It?
Not at all
Will You Recommend It?
Never
Jewel Thief Netflix Movie Review by M9
