Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Movie Review

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins, the much-awaited film, has finally arrived. It features Saif Ali Khan as a master thief, directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, and here we bring you the review…

A master thief, Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), is forced out of hiding to pull off an impossible diamond heist in Mumbai. The target? The ultra-secure Red Sun, worth ₹500 crores, housed in a top museum.With a ruthless gangster pressuring him and a relentless cop on his trail, Rehan must risk everything.

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins is a full-throttle heist entertainer that thrives on style, speed, and star power—so long as you’re willing to overlook the occasional leap (or nosedive) in logic. While the film takes generous cinematic liberties, it offers enough flair and surprise to keep audiences hooked, especially in the second half.

When it comes to performances, Saif Ali Khan returns to his suave action avatar, channeling major Race vibes with ease. He looks dashing and performs with effortless charisma. Jaideep Ahlawat is the real standout—menacing, magnetic, and completely in control as the antagonist. Nikita Dutta holds her ground well, with a role that actually matters to the plot. Kunal Kapoor, though decent, is weighed down by underwhelming writing. Supporting actors Chirjyot Singh Kohli and Vinay Sharma provide comic relief, while veterans like Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Sumit Gulati lend strong support. Meenal Sahu (as hacker Nikki) has potential, but her character lacks depth.

Directors Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal steer the film into the mode of ‘Drama begins when the logic ends’, and have done it accordingly. David Logan’s screenplay keeps the momentum alive, especially post-intermission. However, plot holes and contrivances do creep in. The aircraft sequence is particularly gripping, while the museum setup adds intrigue early on. But the climax feels rushed, and the inclusion of the UK High Commission subplot dilutes the tension.

On the technical side, the visuals take the front seat. Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s cinematography lends the film a slick, big-screen appeal. The production design is lavish, and costumes (especially Saif’s and Nikita’s) are eye-catching. Action sequences, choreographed by Parvez Shaikh, Riyaz-Habib, and Kecha Kamphakdee, are exciting but not overly violent—striking a good balance. VFX is decent, while Aarif Sheikh’s editing lags in the middle but overall serves the pace. The songs are totally disappointing and the BGM works out in few places.

Looking out for the points on the flip side, there are plenty of moments where logic takes a backseat. A prince traveling on a commercial flight due to jet trouble is hard to digest. The police officer Vikram’s arc is cliched and predictably ineffective. Supporting characters like the hacker or Kunal’s role feel underdeveloped. The climax, while action-packed, wraps up too conveniently with the villain going down a bit too easily.

Overall, Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins is a glossy, twist-filled ride that delivers fun if you’re willing to suspend disbelief. Powered by strong performances (especially Saif and Jaideep), slick visuals, and a fast-paced second half, it checks most of the boxes for a weekend popcorn flick. Just don’t expect airtight plotting or emotional depth.