Saif Ali Khan
Rehan Roy
Overview
In this high-octane battle of wits and wills, ingenious con artist Rehan devises a diamond heist while trying to outsmart Rajan, his sadistic adversary.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Heist That Forgot to Steal Our Attention
I’ll admit it: I went into Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins with low expectations. Not because of the title—though that alone is a red flag, a lazy wink at Vijay Anand’s 1967 classic that promises more than it could ever deliver—but because the trailer already felt like a greatest-hits reel of every heist movie cliché of the last twenty years. The slick con artist with a heart of gold (or at least a veneer of charm).
The crime lord with a taste for the theatrical. The diamond so valuable it might as well be a MacGuffin with a price tag. The only thing missing was a slow-motion shot of a glass shattering, and I half-expected one to appear in the first act.
What I didn’t expect was how quickly the film would forget its own premise. Here’s a movie that opens with Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), a jewel thief hiding in Budapest under the watchful eyes of Indian agents, only to immediately undercut its own tension by having him drug his pursuers and waltz back to Mumbai like it’s a Tuesday. If the film can’t even commit to the stakes of its first ten minutes, what hope does the rest of it have?
The answer, unfortunately, is not much. Jewel Thief is a film that mistakes motion for momentum, style for substance, and profanity for wit. It’s the kind of movie where characters drop the F-bomb like it’s a punctuation mark, as if a well-placed expletive could distract from the fact that the dialogue is as shallow as a puddle. Sumit Arora, the film’s dialogue writer, seems to have taken this approach to heart. The Hindu put it best: he "resorts to profane words to generate impact," but the impact is about as lasting as a firework—bright for a second, then nothing but smoke.
And yet, there are moments when the film almost works. Almost. Saif Ali Khan, for instance, is effortlessly watchable in the role of Rehan.
He moves through the film with the kind of louche confidence that makes you believe he could talk his way out of anything—even a script this thin. There’s a scene early on where he’s being tailed by agents in Budapest, and the way he casually leans against a café table, sipping his coffee like he hasn’t a care in the world, is the kind of small, human detail that makes you wish the film had more of them.
Jaideep Ahlawat, as the crime lord Rajan Aulakh, is similarly compelling, chewing scenery with the kind of relish that suggests he’s at least aware of how ridiculous the whole enterprise is. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic is the closest the film comes to feeling alive, a spark of genuine tension in an otherwise airless room.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.2/10
"A visually slick heist thriller that struggles to escape its formulaic roots despite strong performances."
Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat deliver charismatic turns as the cunning thief and ruthless crime lord, respectively, providing the film’s most engaging moments. However, the plot leans heavily on overused heist tropes, leaving little room for surprise or depth. latestnetflix.com's read is that Viewers appreciate the stylish direction and high-energy sequences but feel the story lacks originality and emotional weight.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat bring charm and intensity, making their cat-and-mouse dynamic the highlight.
- Stylish visuals The film’s high-octane action and sleek cinematography create an engaging, fast-paced atmosphere.
- Entertaining heist sequences The diamond heist scenes are well-choreographed and keep the energy high throughout.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows tired heist movie clichés, offering few surprises or fresh twists.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including Nikita Dutta and Kunal Kapoor, feel shallow and underutilized.
- Lacks emotional depth The film prioritizes style over substance, leaving little room for character development or meaningful stakes.
Recommended for
Heist movie enthusiasts Saif Ali Khan fans Action-thriller lovers Stylish crime drama seekers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins: The High-Stakes Gamble Behind India’s Next Big Heist Flick
Netflix is betting big on Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins, the 2025 Hindi-language action thriller that promises to redefine the Indian heist genre. Directed by Kookie Gulati and Robby Grewal, the film stars Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat in a high-octane race to steal the legendary African Red Sun diamond—a mission that spirals into chaos. latestnetflix.com's view is that but behind the slick trailer and star-studded cast lies a production with more twists than its own plot.
A Heist Film with a Franchise-sized Ambition
From the outset, Jewel Thief was never meant to be a standalone project. Early reports suggest Netflix envisioned it as the first installment in a larger cinematic universe, with the subtitle "The Red Sun Chapter" hinting at a multi-film saga 
. Filming began in Budapest in 2024, a location chosen for its tax incentives and European aesthetic—a rare move for Indian heist films, which typically favor Mumbai or Dubai . The shift suggests a deliberate attempt to elevate production value and appeal to global audiences.
The film’s premise—a master thief hired by a crime lord to steal a priceless diamond—isn’t groundbreaking, but the execution might be. Sources indicate the script underwent multiple rewrites to balance the heist’s technical precision with the personal stakes of its characters . If successful, Jewel Thief could pave the way for sequels, spin-offs, or even a Netflix series expanding the underworld lore.
Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat: The Odd Couple of Indian Cinema
The casting of Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat as the film’s leads is one of its biggest talking points. Khan, known for his suave, charismatic roles (Race, Tanhaji), plays the titular jewel thief, while Ahlawat (Paatal Lok, Jaibhim) takes on the role of the crime lord pulling the strings. Their on-screen dynamic—one a charming rogue, the other a ruthless kingpin—mirrors the contrast in their real-life personas.
But the pairing wasn’t an obvious choice. Khan has spent years oscillating between mainstream Bollywood and experimental projects, while Ahlawat’s rise has been fueled by gritty, character-driven roles. Rumors (unconfirmed) suggest the two clashed over creative differences during filming, particularly over the tone of their characters’ confrontations . Neither actor has addressed the claims, but their chemistry—or lack thereof—could make or break the film’s tension.
Supporting the duo is a mix of veterans and rising stars. Nikita Dutta (Kabir Singh) and Kunal Kapoor (Rang De Basanti) play pivotal roles, while Kulbhushan Kharbanda, a legend of Indian parallel cinema, adds gravitas as a mysterious figure tied to the diamond’s history 
. The ensemble also includes Gagan Arora, Dorendra Singh Loitongbam, and Peter Muxka Manuel, suggesting a diverse, international backdrop for the heist.
Netflix’s High-Risk, High-Reward Strategy
Jewel Thief marks Netflix’s latest push into the Indian action-thriller space, a genre dominated by theatrical releases. The streaming giant has struggled to replicate the success of Sacred Games and Extraction in India, and Jewel Thief is a calculated gamble to change that. The film’s premiere on Netflix—rather than a traditional theatrical release—reflects the platform’s confidence in its ability to attract subscribers with star power and spectacle .
But the move isn’t without risks. Indian audiences have historically preferred heist films with emotional depth (Special 26, A Wednesday!) or over-the-top action (Dhoom). Jewel Thief walks a tightrope between the two, and early buzz suggests mixed reactions to its pacing and character development . If the film underperforms, it could derail Netflix’s plans for a franchise.
**What’s Next? The Future of the Red Sun Universe**
If Jewel Thief succeeds, Netflix is reportedly ready to greenlight a sequel, tentatively titled The Black Lotus Chapter . The sequel would explore the aftermath of the diamond’s theft, introducing new antagonists and expanding the criminal underworld. There’s also chatter about a spin-off series focusing on Ahlawat’s crime lord character, though nothing has been officially confirmed.
For now, all eyes are on the film’s release. Will Jewel Thief be the next Ocean’s Eleven of Indian cinema, or will it fade into the crowded heist-movie graveyard? The answer lies in whether Gulati and Grewal can deliver a heist that’s as meticulously planned as the one on screen.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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