Helmed by Faruk Kabir, JioHotstar’s spy thriller series Salakaar is out now. Starring Naveen Kasturia and Mouni Roy in the leading roles, the show is reportedly inspired by one of India’s most prominent and respected intelligence officers, Ajit Doval.
Salakaar unfolds across two separate timelines. In the present day, a RAW agent named Srishti, operating under the alias Maryam and played by Mouni Roy, is working to uncover a nuclear bomb plot orchestrated by Pakistani Colonel Ashfaqullah (Surya Sharma). The present-day storyline is less defined than the past timeline, but it’s clear that the focus is on a covert mission to stop Pakistan’s nuclear program.
Early reviews for the show are mixed, with many viewers and critics calling it an ambitious but ultimately flawed espionage thriller. While some praise its performances and patriotic tone, the majority point to weak writing, a lack of realism, and a rushed plot as its main shortcomings.
One of the biggest positives is the performances of Kasturia and Mouni Roy, with the latter’s work gaining more attention. Mukesh Rishi’s performance has also been praised. However, the show’s story and writing have been criticised for being clichéd and mediocre.
Another major point of criticism is the lack of narrative depth, as the total episode count stands at only five, each with a runtime of just 30–40 minutes. While the shorter episodes make for a fast-paced watch, viewers argue that this format prevents any real character development or tension from building.
Moreover, the plot feels predictable, and the climax is widely described as underwhelming and forgettable.
Salakaar has been the talk of the Indian OTT landscape for a while now. Equipped with immense hype and extensive promotion, the latest Naveen Kasturia–Mouni Roy starrer delivers in some areas but struggles in others. Stay tuned for more updates.
Here are some early reactions to Salakaar!
Just watched #Salakaar and WOW, #MouniRoy as #Mariam is sheer brilliance. Her eyes do the talking, every single time. @Roymouni pic.twitter.com/gLT88azHzc
— Srabanti Chakrabarti (@srabantic) August 8, 2025
Watching #Salakaar and honestly, #MouniRoy has never been better. This one falls in the category of one of her career-best performances. pic.twitter.com/ArT4P1f9cu
— shruti sampat (@shrutisampat) August 8, 2025
#Salakaar has everything in terms of cinematic technicalities but lacks the depth in narration
Performances were generic truly nothing stands out#Mukeshrishi 's character was unintentionally funny in some portions
Music was actually good post production was terrible
Okay okay pic.twitter.com/Y89741nnDj— PoV (@PoV8055) August 8, 2025
"A tacky, post-truth espionage thriller."
Read @ReelReptile's review of #Salakaar here.#SalakaarOnJioHotstarhttps://t.co/7JbRzRx9FU
— The Hollywood Reporter India (@THRIndia_) August 8, 2025
Needed more substance.
Doesn't feel real at points.I think they made #Salakaar a movie. After making they realized ki it is not gonna work so made it into series. The Ending is a mix of "ARGO + BABY + BELL BOTTOM"
ONE LINE : GOOD, but Could have been better. ENJOYED THOUGH. pic.twitter.com/nMsyu8Hx5l
— KD (@dwivedikaustuv) August 7, 2025
"In a show like this, even the performances have no time to perform as the entire scheme is busy finding ways to ridicule Pakistan. So, an otherwise sincere Naveen doesn’t ignite any spark," writes @shreyastify in his review of the #Salakaar serieshttps://t.co/FVMVsBAHNP
— Cinema Express (@XpressCinema) August 8, 2025
“Salakaar” Review: Flawed execution makes it a forgettable espionage drama #Salakaar #SalakaarOnJioHotstar #suryasharma #mouniroy #naveenkasturia #JioHotstarhttps://t.co/ha6nyJquIn
— Snooper-Scope (@Snooper_Scope) August 8, 2025
#Review: Despite strong performances by Naveen Kasturia and a promising premise, the show suffers from rushed storytelling confusing time jumps, and flat execution.
To know more read the full Review here https://t.co/09xXCWaKLD
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.#IF #IndiaForums #SalakaarReview…— India Forums (@indiaforums) August 8, 2025
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