After delivering a series of compelling Bollywood thrillers like A Wednesday, Special 26, and Baby, Neeraj Pandey has firmly established himself as a master of gripping narratives centered on secret agents and men in uniform. His recent OTT successes, Special Ops and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter, further cement his reputation in the genre. However, his latest offering, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, while entertaining in parts, fails to maintain the high standards of his previous works.
Set in 2009 Mumbai, the film opens with a high-stakes heist involving precious red solitaires worth Rs 60 crores. The diamonds are stolen from an exhibition in a sequence that raises more questions than it answers. How did Sikandar (Avinash Tiwary) manage to switch off the security cameras for three minutes without raising suspicion? How could he break the glass and steal the diamonds without anyone noticing in a crowded hall? These glaring loopholes in the heist execution undermine the suspense early on, leaving the audience puzzled.
Officer Jaswinder Singh (Jimmy Shergill) narrows the suspects to three individuals—Mangesh Desai (Rajiv Mehta), a veteran employee at the jewelry store; Kamini Singh (Tamannaah Bhatia), a single mother working at the store; and Sikandar Sharma, a techie who suspiciously hurried away after the alarm went off. Singh’s instincts zero in on Sikandar, but his obsessive 15-year-long pursuit of the man—spanning Mumbai, Agra, and Abu Dhabi—feels far-fetched and somewhat contrived. The film stretches credibility as it portrays Singh doing little else during this time except keeping tabs on Sikandar’s daily life, a premise that feels unconvincing and overly dramatic.
The narrative starts on a strong note, with the heist drawing the audience into a web of intrigue. However, when the timeline jumps ahead 15 years, the momentum falters. The story becomes a prolonged game of cat-and-mouse, with the focus shifting from the diamonds to Singh’s relentless chase. While the film attempts to sustain suspense with a few twists, they are predictable, and the climactic face-off between Singh and Sikandar lacks the tension and payoff that the setup promised.
Despite the script’s shortcomings, the performances are a saving grace. Jimmy Shergill excels as Jaswinder Singh, capturing the character’s frustration and obsession with finesse. He portrays a man consumed by his duty but weighed down by personal demons. Avinash Tiwary as Sikandar delivers a nuanced performance, convincingly oscillating between vulnerability and cunning. Tamannaah Bhatia impresses in a de-glamorized role, lending emotional depth to the story as Kamini, a single mother unwittingly caught in the crossfire. Her restrained yet impactful performance often steals the show from Tiwary’s more prominent screen presence. Rajiv Mehta adds an additional layer to the mystery as Mangesh Desai, a character who keeps the audience guessing.
Visually, the film is a treat. Cinematographer Arvind Singh captures the essence of every location, from the chaotic streets of Mumbai to the sleek skyline of Abu Dhabi and the historical charm of Agra. However, the film’s 143-minute runtime feels bloated, with well-composed songs occasionally disrupting the narrative flow rather than enhancing it.
Ultimately, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is a mixed bag. While it benefits from strong performances and a promising start, the lack of logic in key plot points—like the unexplained ease of the heist—and the sluggish pacing prevent it from becoming the taut thriller it aspires to be. Neeraj Pandey’s trademark sharpness is noticeably absent, and the film struggles to match the high bar set by his earlier works.
Final Verdict:
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is worth watching for its stellar cast and intriguing opening, but don’t expect a flawless thriller. The film entertains but falls short of leaving a lasting impression.
Rating: 2/5
