One panther, pink.

 Despite the title, Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins (2025) has basically no relation to 1967's Jewel Thief, a stylish cotton candy noir starring Dev Anand.  That doesn't mean it's particularly original; the new Jewel Thief draws clear inspiration form a number of heist films.  Then again, there are only so many ways you can spin stealing a diamond.

The jewel thief in question is Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), a charming international playboy who may well have a heart of gold, or at least silver,  maybe a highly polished ornamental copper.  Rehan was disowned by his saintly doctor father Jayant (Kulbashan Kharbanda),  but when little brother Avi (Gagan Arora) shows up at his Budapest home to say that their father is in danger unless Rehan agrees to do a job for "art collector" and brutal gangster Rajan Aulakh ( Jaideep Ahlawat), Rehan is not going to say no.  Though since he is a wanted criminal, he travels by means of a cunning scheme, humiliating Vikram Patel (Kunal Kapoor), the obsessive cop who has been chasing him for three years, in the process.

 Rajan has recently had several assets seized, and he owes money to people who are not patient and understanding, so he wants Rehan to steal the Red Sun, a large jewel known as "Africa's Koh-i-Noor" which is due to be displayed at an art museum in Mumbai.  The two men banter for a bit, then Rajan takes a moment to clearly establish that he is a very bad man by shooting his own dog.  Rehan is still willing to do the job (because blackmail) but manages to talk Rajan into a full partnership and fifty-fifty split.  There are conditions, however: Rehan will live at Rajan's complex until the heist is over, and will be under constant surveillance.

Also at the complex - Rajan's wife, a gentle artist named Farah (Nikita Dutta).  Farah doesn't disclose her reasons for marrying  Rajan, but he is clearly abusive and controlling, and Rehan impulsively boasts that he's going to steal the Red Sun and her on the same night.

And then - well, it's a heist film, so it  follows a certain pattern.  They spend a long time planning the heist.  The first attempt fails, so they're forced to carry out an even more audacious heist from a commercial flight.  Rajan seeks out Istanbul-based gangster Moosa (Loitongbam Dorendra Singh) to fence the jewel, and while they do not like one another it does not stop them from scheming to double-cross Rehan.  Rehan quietly and subtly woos Farah when no one is looking, and considers reconciling with his father.  And Vikram follows in the background, relentless but always two steps behind.

 Jewel Thief is fun and it oozes style, but there's not much going on underneath; despite the twists and turns, it's very predictable, and despite the sometimes brutal violence it feels very safe and lightweight.  Still, there are worse ways to spend an evening.