Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins Movie Review | Anupama Chopra | THR India

Anupama Chopra compares the new "Jewel Thief: The First Heist" to its iconic 1967 namesake, finding the 2025 Netflix release sadly lacking the sparkle and charm of the original. Despite starring the suave Saif Ali Khan as globe-trotting thief Rehan and the menacing Jaideep Ahlawat as villain Rajan Aulakh, this heist film fails to deliver the essential ingredients that make the genre enjoyable.

Produced by Siddharth Anand (of "Pathaan" and "War" fame), the film squanders its potential with dull storytelling and low stakes, despite having all the elements for popcorn entertainment: charismatic stars, exotic locations, and a 500-crore diamond called the African Red Sun.

Anupama highlights Jaideep Ahlawat's performance as the film's standout element, particularly praising his unexpected dance sequence in the song "Jaadu." However, she concludes that even his "silken evil" can't overcome the lazy writing and predictable plot turns of this instantly forgettable Netflix release.