Netflix premiered “Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins” on April 25, 2025. This high-stakes thriller follows a spectacular Rs 500 crore diamond heist. Directors Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal bring Saif Ali Khan to the screen as master thief Rehan Roy, who must steal ‘Red Sun’, a legendary African ruby.
The heist film scored 4.2/10 on IMDb and received mixed critic reviews. Yet it packs many hidden details worth learning about. The story takes viewers through Mumbai, Budapest, and Istanbul’s stunning locations that create an international backdrop for the jewel theft. The film’s ending hints at a sequel “The Heist Continues,” which suggests the start of a jewel thief series.
In this piece, we’ll examine the subtle clues, symbolism, and references you might have missed in your first viewing. The carefully placed puzzle pieces reveal hidden visual elements and character backstories that add depth to the narrative. The 2025 release pays tribute to the classic 1967 Jewel Thief while creating its own modern identity.
Hidden Visual Clues You Might Have Missed
Image Source: FasterCapital
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins goes beyond its action-packed surface to tell a deeper story through its visual elements that boost the narrative in subtle yet powerful ways. Let’s take a closer look at the carefully crafted visual language that runs throughout the film.
The Red Sun diamond’s deeper symbolism
The African Red Sun diamond stands at the heart of this heist – it’s much more than just a plot device. Known as the “Koh-i-Noor of Africa,” the Red Sun’s value exceeds Rs 500 crore in the underworld market. This comparison establishes the gem as a cultural treasure and source of national pride for its fictional African homeland.
The movie draws natural parallels between the Red Sun and legendary African diamonds like Cullinan I and Cullinan II. This connection highlights the historical importance of red diamonds, which rank among the world’s rarest gems. Characters treat the Red Sun with deep reverence, despite its appearance that some critics say resembles “a cheap Christmas ornament”.
Prince Gamunu’s dedication to protecting the touring ruby reflects themes of national heritage and colonial history, though these angles remain subtle in the film. The diamond becomes both the literal and symbolic heart of the story – its blood-red color represents danger and desire.
Subtle color coding in costumes and sets
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins uses a distinctive visual palette that tells its own story. The film features:
- Fluorescent greens symbolizing greed and envy
- Neon reds highlighting danger and passion
- Hot pinks representing decadence and luxury
- Seedy blues creating atmosphere and tension
These color combinations serve a purpose beyond esthetics – they’re woven into every shot and setting. The film’s commitment to this color scheme runs so deep that “nearly every scene resembles the radioactive chemicals in Dexter’s laboratory”. Rajan’s violent streak seems to serve the visual palette, as “it feels like Rajan kills people so that fresh blood can broaden this vivid palette”.
The movie makes use of various locations’ visual contrasts to ground its high-stakes story. Each environment’s colors reveal character motivations and hint at lurking dangers.
Character Details That Reveal More Than You Think
Image Source: Factual America
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins features characters with complex layers that make the story richer than your typical heist film. The subtle details help viewers learn about what drives these characters during their high-stakes diamond theft.
Rehan’s guilt and family ties
Saif Ali Khan plays a suave jewel thief, but his character carries the weight of family rejection. Dr. Jayant Roy (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) rejected his son Rehan Roy because he chose a life of theft. This broken relationship between father and son creates a powerful emotional thread throughout the film.
The story’s father-son angle serves a deeper purpose. Rehan steals the Red Sun diamond because someone blackmails him about his estranged father. His younger brother (Gagan Arora) tries to fix their relationship and becomes the family’s emotional bridge.
Khan delivers his best performance in scenes with his father. We see how this “rule-breaking, big-hearted thief” stays connected to family even after years apart. He uses his criminal skills not for himself but to help solve his father’s clinic’s money problems.
Farah’s hidden messages through her paintings
Farah (Nikita Dutta) feels trapped in her marriage to the cruel Rajan. She expresses her pain through art. Critics called her character “wasted as a set piece”, but careful viewers can see her paintings work as quiet pleas for help.
Rajan’s wife moves through fancy rooms wearing long gowns with sadness on her face. She often talks about her “majboori” (helplessness). Her husband pretends to collect art but secretly runs an underworld empire. He makes his own dark art with paintings “stained with real human blood after countless smashes with his fist”.
Farah’s gentle artwork stands in stark contrast to Rajan’s bloody creations, showing their relationship’s true nature. She grows closer to Rehan when he spots her hidden messages and “vows to save her from Rajan’s clutches”. Their connection ends up going beyond the original heist, suggesting more adventures ahead.
Foreshadowing Moments That Set Up the Twists
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins excels at planting clever clues that reveal major plot twists well before they happen. Director Kookie Gulati masterfully weaves subtle moments of foreshadowing that reward viewers who pay close attention.
Early hints about Rajan’s betrayal
The film’s opening scenes plant seeds about Rajan’s eventual betrayal. His character’s foundation rests on financial desperation—creditors “would come after his life” if he missed their payment deadline. This desperate situation drives him to pursue the Red Sun diamond.
Jaideep Ahlawat shows Rajan’s ruthless nature early by killing his accountant—showing exactly how he deals with people who fail him. The tense phone call with the Fortcrest Art Center curator shows he knew about the Red Sun before meeting Rehan, which proves his scheme was planned in advance.
Rajan’s troubled relationship with Istanbul crime boss Moosa sets up their unavoidable clash later in the story. Rehan seems to sense trouble coming too, as his reluctance to work with Rajan carries dark warnings about the betrayal ahead.
Clues about the fake Red Sun switch
Sharp-eyed viewers might spot differences between Rehan’s stated plan and what he actually does. The camera shows him “drawing up a fake plan” while hiding his real intentions—a clever trick that mirrors the diamond switch itself.
The scene where Rehan breaks into Simon Jarvis’s residence at the UK High Commission seems routine until you notice him switching bags. This quick moment becomes the key to understanding the film’s biggest twist.
The emergency landing in Istanbul stands out as brilliant foreshadowing. What looks like a failed heist turns out to be Rehan’s carefully laid trap to put Rajan right where Moosa can find him.
Rehan’s final piece of foreshadowing comes from leaving a gas pipeline open. This detail seems unimportant until Rajan lights his cigarette, bringing perfect justice to his betrayal in the explosive finale.
Nods to Classic Heist Films and the Jewel Thief Series
Image Source: IMDb
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins honors its cinematic roots with many references that bridge past and present heist stories. Movie buffs will spot everything from direct title references to subtle visual tributes.
References to the 1967 Jewel Thief
The film takes its name from a landmark Hindi cinema heist movie—the 1967 classic Jewel Thief directed by Vijay ‘Goldie’ Anand with Dev Anand in the lead role. The connection runs deeper than just the name. The creators added a scene that mentions director Vijay Anand to show their respect. Critics found this tribute a bit shallow, noting that “the makers drop the name of Vijay Anand in one sequence, but could mine precious little out of flattery.”
Reviews suggest this 2025 version doesn’t match its predecessor’s magic. A critic puts it bluntly: “If you really want to watch ‘Jewel Thief’, revisit the original 1967 film by Vijay Anand starring Dev Anand. It had style, smarts, and soul—everything this 2025 version desperately lacks.” Someone else points out that the film “unnecessarily draws comparisons with Goldie’s iconic crime caper” and doesn’t deal very well with these expectations.
The story doesn’t end with the original film. Some reviewers mention “Return of Jewel Thief,” a decent follow-up directed by Ashok Tyagi.
Homages to famous heist movie tropes
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins fully embraces classic heist film elements. The directors clearly “place this film in the zone of films like DHOOM, FAST & FURIOUS, etc.” The movie includes all the usual heist elements – breaking into secure vaults, planning the perfect robbery, and finding ways around security systems.
The film uses familiar genre staples like “infrared rays guard[ing] a diamond, and a password waiting to be cracked.” Several scenes remind viewers of popular heist series like Race and Dhoom, though one reviewer dismisses it as “a rejected first draft of ‘Race 4.'”
After its release, the movie spawned a special crossover episode with the detective show CID, featuring Jaideep Ahlawat and Kunal Kapoor. This episode “acts as an extension of Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins” and expands the franchise’s universe.
The movie ends with “The Heist Continues,” hinting at more jewel thief adventures to come.
Conclusion
Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins packs more punch than you might expect. This Saif Ali Khan thriller rewards viewers who pay attention, even though critics were divided. The story weaves visual symbolism, deep characters, and smart foreshadowing throughout. The Red Sun diamond isn’t just a simple plot device – it embodies cultural heritage and sits at the story’s core. The film’s unique color scheme speaks volumes through its fluorescent greens, neon reds, and hot pinks that hint at danger, greed, and luxury.
The characters break free from typical heist movie stereotypes. Rehan Roy’s path to crime stems from a complicated relationship with his father and a dark blackmail plot. Farah’s artwork serves as her silent plea for help, which adds real emotional depth to the action-packed narrative. Smart storytelling shines through the carefully placed hints about Rajan’s betrayal and the diamond switch, making the explosive ending even more satisfying.
The film pays homage to its 1967 namesake starring Dev Anand, but critics say it’s nowhere near as charming or innovative as the original. Yet this modern take delivers everything you’d want from a classic heist caper with some fresh twists. “The Heist Continues,” the upcoming sequel, suggests Rehan Roy’s story isn’t over.
A second watch helps viewers spot all the hidden details that elevate this film beyond a standard heist movie. Just like Rehan’s intricate schemes, every element in Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins serves a purpose – from visual hints to character moments that make this diamond heist shine brighter.
FAQs
Q1. Who stars as the main character in “Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins”? Saif Ali Khan plays the lead role of Rehan Roy, a master thief tasked with stealing the legendary African ruby known as ‘Red Sun’.
Q2. What is the significance of the Red Sun diamond in the movie? The Red Sun diamond is a Rs 500 crore African ruby that serves as the central focus of the heist. It symbolizes national pride and cultural treasure, drawing parallels to real-life legendary African diamonds.
Q3. How does the movie use color to enhance storytelling? The film employs a distinctive color palette including fluorescent greens, neon reds, and hot pinks to symbolize emotions and themes like greed, danger, and luxury throughout the narrative.
Q4. Are there any connections to the 1967 film “Jewel Thief”? While the 2025 film borrows its title from the 1967 classic, it includes a direct reference to director Vijay Anand in one sequence as an homage, but largely stands as its own modern interpretation.
Q5. Does the movie hint at a potential sequel? Yes, the film’s ending teases a potential sequel with the phrase “The Heist Continues,” suggesting this might be the beginning of a new jewel thief series.
