When fans tuned into the trailer for Kooki Gulati’s Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, they were left impressed. Yet after building a positive hype about the movie, with the trailers and star-studded cast, it has fallen severely short.
This Said Ali Khan starrer is being bashed tremendously. Despite the big names, the Jewel Thief has utterly failed to impress the audience. It seems like the trailer and Jaydeep Ahlawat’s performance (both in the movie and the trailer) were the best elements to come off the movie.
To audiences, this is almost a rupture of promise. This highlights the OTT platforms’ recent failures at providing audiences with high-quality media. OTT platforms have chosen to focus on well-known faces and an expensive budget.
They have lost sight of their original vision. Choosing to focus instead on the mainstream Bollywood style hype. The soul of experimentation and boldness stems from OTT movies.
The production company Marflix focused on using the hefty Netflix money to create a movie suited for clipping in reels and shorts, with overused ideas and a nonsensical narrative.
It is not only a disrespect to fans to pay for the service, but also to the 1967 classic of the same name by Vijay Anand, which it supposedly pays homage to (in a very subtle manner, though).
Fans have taken to X and expressed their dissatisfaction.
You know what I liked about #JewelThiefTheHeistBegins ? Absolutely nothing.
— Proteem Bhaduri (@piquant_prose) April 25, 2025
Unfortunately watched part of Jewel Thief- The Heist begins. A complete disaster, with lacklustre writing, acting and direction. Thankfully, Vijay Anand's classic keeps the crown as this Saif caper will sink into oblivion in less than a month. #JewelThiefTheHeistBegins pic.twitter.com/DbbZs2I6Sg
— Roopa B (@Roopa13B) April 26, 2025
After introducing us to class , slick heist shows from Spain, Hollywood @NetflixIndia punishes us with the terrible, pathetic #JewelThiefTheHeistBegins
— Mini Nair (@minicnair) April 26, 2025
Seriously, Bollywood is going down the drain
At the end it said that "The Heist will continue", Please don't 🙏
— Sceptical Sardar (@SmatyJSahni) April 25, 2025
Meri maano, rehne do.#JewelThiefTheHeistBegins