Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins isn’t just your average heist film; it’s a bold commentary on Bollywood itself. The latest Netflix offering, starring Saif Ali Khan, dives deep into the fractured landscape of the Indian film industry — and its depiction might make you question if Bollywood is beyond saving.

In an era where Bollywood seems to be both struggling and surviving with one hand tied behind its back, Jewel Thief echoes a stark reality — one that’s just as much about the heist as it is about the failure of a once-glorious industry.

Netflix has long been a platform for high-budget, high-stakes productions, but even it has had its challenges, as seen in the infamous saga of the Baahubali prequel, Baahubali: Before the Beginning. That project, filmed at Ramoji Film City and initially receiving much fanfare, was deemed unworthy by the streaming giant. What followed was a complete revamp of the project, with a new creative team and cast, but the final result couldn’t even meet Netflix’s high standards, prompting its eventual shelving.

Fast forward to Jewel Thief, which seemingly escaped the same fate. With its gargantuan budget and promise of star power, the film manages to spotlight Bollywood’s inherent contradictions. But the question arises: how many times can the same lead actor, Saif Ali Khan, facilitate the destruction of Bollywood after he’s spent years in the limelight “restoring” it?

The post-credit scene of Jewel Thief — as if it wasn’t already clear enough — implies that Bollywood isn’t just broken; it’s a reflection of what the industry thinks of its audience. Jewel Thief subtly challenges the viewer to ask: Is this the reflection of a failed industry, or the creators’ view of us, the ones who keep feeding into it?