Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is a Netflix Hindi thriller from Neeraj Pandey, the mastermind behind A Wednesday, Special 26, and Baby… films that redefined taut, clever Bollywood thrillers. Pandey’s reputation for crafting edge-of-your-seat narratives with sharp twists had me buzzing with high expectations, especially after his recent OTT hits like Special Ops and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. His knack for blending moral ambiguity with slick cat-and-mouse games made me hope for another banger. But, alas, this diamond heist doesn’t quite shine as bright.
Set in 2009 Mumbai, the film kicks off with a chaotic jewellery expo robbery. Enter Jaswinder Singh (Jimmy Shergill), a cop with a flawless record, hounding suspects Sikandar (Avinash Tiwary), Kamini (Tamannaah Bhatia), and Mangesh (Rajiv Mehta). The 15-year chase that follows is a rollercoaster. Shergill’s obsessive Jaswinder is riveting, and Tiwary’s layered Sikandar keeps you guessing. Bhatia’s Kamini adds emotional heft, though she’s underused.
The suspense holds tight, with Pandey’s signature long takes and Arvind Singh’s vibrant visuals, from Mumbai’s bustle to Abu Dhabi’s gloss.
But the pacing? It’s a slog in the middle, with melodrama and a random romantic song dulling the edge.
The final twist lands well but lacks Pandey’s usual jaw-drop factor. It’s a solid one-time watch, not his finest.
7/10.
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