Salakaar

A familiar spy thriller that kicks off strong. The script shows effort, weaving in real-life inspirations from figures like General Zia and NSA Doval. The acting performances are good, and the two parallel storylines keep things moving, though the show doesn't stay as gripping as it begins. Like many in the genre, it features the typical adversary, sticking to a tried-and-tested formula.

It's a quick watch thanks to its short episodes, but otherwise not something particularly memorable.

Review of Salakaar

Salakaar is a gripping story with a well-paced narrative, and I feel every actor has done justice to their role. The central character, young Adhir, played by Naveen Kasturia, delivers a steady performance, though in a few frames his straight-faced expression feels a bit too restrained. Mouni Roy looks glamours although her dressing in series is more like Bengali rather Pakistani. Surya Sharma is under-utilised as he has fire in him.

The highlight of the show is undoubtedly veteran actor Mukesh Rishi as General Zia-ul-Haq. He leaves a strong impression whenever he appears on screen, commanding attention and lending authenticity to the role.

That said, the screenplay has a few noticeable flaws. For example, the Sarpanch of a village is shown openly consuming alcohol-something quite unrealistic given that during Zia's regime, alcohol was completely banned in Pakistan. Similarly, the ease with which characters gain entry into a high-security nuclear power plant-simply by having a villager disguise himself as a sepoy-feels overly simplified.

The final airport sequence is tight, engaging, and easy to follow, though it also stretches believability in parts. Still, these minor lapses are forgivable because overall, this is an entertaining spy thriller that keeps you hooked.

I enjoyed watching Salakaar and am looking forward to the next segment-hopefully with even higher stakes.

Salaakar had the ingredients to be a gripping series or film, but poor casting and amateurish direction drag it down entirely. The most baffling choice? Mouni Roy-a performer whose limited acting range sticks out like a sore thumb. Her delivery is wooden, and she fails to elevate even the simplest scenes.

The rest of the cast doesn't fare much better, with mismatched actors struggling to salvage weak direction. The plot (if there's a coherent one) gets lost in unconvincing performances and a lack of visual flair.

Verdict: A forgettable mess that could've been decent with a stronger cast and competent filmmaking. Skip it.

Salakaar, launched on JioHotstar August 8, 2025, is a gripping spy thriller that keeps you glued. Naveen Kasturia excels as a sharp Indian agent navigating covert missions across two eras, outshining the tactical flair of Special Ops' Himmat Singh. Mouni Roy's enigmatic intelligence officer with beauty adds fiery charisma, stealing scenes with understated menace. Surya Sharma's ruthless villain rivals the intensity of Raazi's Vicky Kausal. The five-episode run is taut but feels short, missing the layered twists of Mukhbir or the ensemble depth of Blood of Bards. Predictable moments and convenient security breaches slightly dim its edge, unlike Crackdown's tighter plotting. Still, with stark visuals and a rousing score, Salakaar tops Kathmandu Connection' drama, delivering raw suspense.

Except mouni roy all performances were admirable., they've slowed the pace of the plot to make it a webseries however, effectively it's just a 2hr story.

Instead of an agent, mouni made it look like a tv soap typical role. Surya Sharma, Naveen Kasturia and mukesh rishi did justice to their characters. Could have added some more spy time scenes, rather the storyteller chose emotional scenes which is disappointing.

Overall a good watch with a family on an weekend as it's effectively 2hrs. All the best for the sequel.