Despite being backed by big names and a star-studded cast, Jewel Thief, produced by Siddharth Anand, struggles to leave an impact where it truly matters — in storytelling and suspense. What begins as a glossy, high-stakes robbery caper quickly unravels into a predictable and uninspired ride that rarely delivers the excitement you’d expect from a heist film.
The central plot revolves around Rehan Roy (played by Saif Ali Khan), who finds himself reluctantly pulled into an elaborate theft orchestrated by the intimidating Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat). Tasked with stealing a priceless artifact, Rehan’s journey should have been a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat experience. Instead, it plays out like a half-hearted echo of better-made heist thrillers — one that feels all too familiar and rarely surprising.
Saif Ali Khan, known for his flair and screen presence, seems underutilized in a role that feels more like a paycheck project than a passion performance. There’s a lack of charisma in his portrayal that makes it hard to buy into the “cool thief” persona the film tries to sell. On the other hand, Jaideep Ahlawat injects some menace into his role, but even his efforts can’t fully lift the film’s lackluster energy. Nikita Dutta, cast as the female lead, is disappointingly sidelined, with a character arc that fails to resonate or bring emotional weight.
Kunal Kapoor, portraying the lawman tasked with tracking the heist crew, gets very little screen time or development. His role is reduced to repeatedly showing up just a step too late — a tired trope that does nothing to heighten the tension or drive the plot forward.
One of the major setbacks of Jewel Thief is its inability to offer any real tension or urgency. For a film centered around a high-profile theft, the stakes feel strangely low, and the twists — if you can call them that — are entirely foreseeable. At times, the film feels more like a style showcase than a compelling narrative.
Adding to the disappointment is the tone of the film, which flirts with action, drama, and even humor but never fully commits to any, resulting in an identity crisis that leaves the audience unengaged. And just when you think it’s over, the movie ends with a hint at a sequel — a bold move for a film that struggles to justify its own runtime.
In the end, Jewel Thief lacks the sharpness and spark needed to stand out in a genre that thrives on cleverness and unpredictability. While the production values are polished and the cast promising, the film never quite delivers the kind of rollercoaster experience a good heist story demands. If you’re looking for something fresh and pulse-pounding, this one might just leave you checking your watch.
Verdict: Jewel Thief may shine on the surface, but beneath the glamour, it’s a routine affair that fails to steal your attention — or your heart.
