I was really looking forward to the release of Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins on Netflix. I love fast-paced, heist movies, and Jewel Thief promised to be one. The film stars Saif Ali Khan as the charming master thief Rehan Roy, Jaideep Ahlawat as the dangerous art collector Rajan Aulakh, and Kunal Kapoor as Vikram Patel, the relentless investigator on Rehan’s trail. The story revolves around a high-stakes diamond heist, with Rehan taking on the challenge of stealing the legendary African Red Sun diamond. However, the movie is full of ups and downs. The plan seems fool-proof, but a lot of complications arise along the way.
The movie kicks off with Rehan Roy, a skilled thief who has made a name for himself across the globe. He’s hiding out in Budapest, living a quiet life, until Rajan, a wealthy art collector tasks him to steal the African Red Sun, a priceless ruby belonging to Prince Gamunu. While the job seems impossible at the start of the movie, Rehan meets Farah, Rajan’s wife who wants to escape her life. They both form a bond. There are multiple attempts made on stealing the ruby, right from Mumbai to Istanbul. The fast-paced storyline keeps the movie interesting. Saif Ali Khan is the heart of the movie, playing the master thief with his trademark charm and style. He brings flair and confidence to Rehan, making the character watchable.
However, other characters do not shine as much as Rehan. All of them are underdeveloped and there are no back stories. The cheesy dialogues and predictable moves make their performances feel a bit outdated. Kunal Kapoor as the investigator is always shown to be a step behind Rehan. There is no innovative approach to the plot. It feels like he keeps the thief chasing till the end. The scenes do not feel realistic. While the director has made sure to not disturb the fast pace of the movie, it has compromised the screenplay and the plot. The heist scenes are very basic and you can already predict what will happen next.
There are a few standout elements that shine throughout the movie. Apart from Saif’s acting, the locations and the visuals are very sleek. The cinematography is amazing and you do get a feel of a high-profile heist. Saif’s charisma and Jaideep’s intensity do make some scenes entertaining. But unless you have clever and innovative scenes, the movie falls flat. Especially a genre like thriller or a heist thriller needs to have fresh scripts to keep the audience interested. That is not the case with Jewel Thief. The movie is a decent one-time watch if you’re in the mood for something light and don’t mind the recycled plot. I don’t think I will watch it twice.