Jewel Thief – A Heist Movie That Reflects More Than It Steals

 

Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, now streaming on Netflix, isn’t just another flashy Bollywood caper — it might just be a mirror held up to the industry itself, and more disturbingly, to its audience. At its core, the film raises a troubling question: How many times can Saif Ali Khan rebuild Bollywood, only to help bring it down again?

Years ago, Netflix had high hopes for Indian content. It backed Baahubali: Before the Beginning, a big-budget prequel series to Rajamouli's epic franchise. Despite heavy investment and a full cast, the first version was scrapped and reshot. Even the reboot didn’t meet Netflix’s quality bar and was shelved—surprisingly so, considering Netflix greenlit Jewel Thief and similar titles like Mrs Serial Killer and Maharaj.

This speaks volumes about Netflix’s evolving standards. Even Abbas-Mustan's Penthouse, another completed film with big names, mysteriously vanished from their lineup with no explanation—leaving fans and even cast member Cyrus Broacha baffled.

Jewel Thief, however, made the cut. And in doing so, it feels like a full-circle moment. Saif Ali Khan, who’s been through the highs and lows of Bollywood, returns once again — not just as a leading man, but as a symbol of a film industry that can’t decide whether it wants to thrive or implode.