Sikandar Ka Muqaddar

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (transl. The Fate of Sikandar) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language heist thriller film directed by Neeraj Pandey, starring Jimmy Sheirgill, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Rajeev Mehta and Divya Dutta. The film is produced by Shital Bhatia under the banner of Friday Storytellers. It was released on Netflix on 29 November 2024.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar
Official release poster
Directed by	Neeraj Pandey
Screenplay by	Neeraj Pandey Vipul K. Rawal
Story by	Neeraj Pandey
Produced by	Shital Bhatia
Starring	Avinash Tiwary Jimmy Sheirgill Tamannaah Bhatia Rajeev Mehta Divya Dutta
Cinematography	Arvind Singh
Edited by	Praveen Kathikuloth
Music by	Payal Dev
Production company	Friday Storytellers
Distributed by	Netflix
Release date	29 November 2024 (2024-11-29)
Running time	143 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Synopsis

A diamond heist, involving diamonds worth ₹50–60 crores, takes place at a jewellery exhibition in Mumbai, with Mangesh Desai, Kamini Singh, and Sikandar Sharma as the prime suspects. Investigation Officer Jaswinder Singh leads the investigation, firmly convinced that Sharma is the culprit, but unable to find solid evidence to prove it. Despite being acquitted due to a lack of evidence, Sikandar's life is shattered. He loses his job, faces social ostracism, and struggles to rebuild his future. Amidst these challenges, he marries Kamini, a single mother. Fifteen years later, both Sikandar and Jaswinder remain haunted by the unresolved case. Jaswinder's obsession with proving Sikandar's guilt drives him into a downward spiral of alcoholism and personal loss. Meanwhile, Sikandar has tried to move on but remains burdened by his past. Kamini is later revealed to have been manipulated by Jaswinder into forming a relationship with Sikandar.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Sikandar was indeed involved in the heist, with the help of Priya, who had kept the stolen diamonds hidden in a bonsai pot for years. The climax reveals that Sikandar had been playing a long game to reclaim the diamonds while concealing his true identity from everyone, including Kamini. In a tense confrontation, Jaswinder finally catches up with Sikandar, leading to a dramatic showdown where long-held secrets are exposed. While Sikandar manages to reclaim the diamonds and outsmart Jaswinder, he is ultimately caught red-handed. The ending remains a cliffhanger, leaving questions about their fates and whether justice was truly served.

Cast

Adapted from closing credits:

• Jimmy Sheirgill as IO Jaswinder Singh
• Avinash Tiwary as Sikandar Sharma
• Tamannaah Bhatia as Kamini Singh
• Rajeev Mehta as Mangesh Desai
• Divya Dutta as Kaushalya Singh
• Ridhima Pandit as Priya Sawant
• Zoya Afroz as Tabbasum Khan
• Praful Joshi as Inspector Santosh Kamble
• Santanu Ghatak as Anoop Das
• Rashmi Shukla as Judge Sushila
• Anil Pandey as Judge
• Ashrut Jain as Manish Shukla, Sikandar's friend
• K. S. Krishnan as Anna
• Shivraj Walwekar as ACP Shrikant Wagh
• Arpit Mishra as Mama ji
• Bharat Jha as Tiwari ji, landlord
• Ashutosh Kushwaha as waiter
• Aparna Upadhyay as Sikandar's mother
• Abhishek Mishra as a man in tenement
• Amrita Kumari as lady constable
• Allinson Aranha as informer

Production

In February 2024, Netflix announced another collaboration with Neeraj Pandey and revealed the film's title through a motion poster. The star cast was later revealed in a behind-the-scenes video released by Netflix in October 2024.

Reception

Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost awarded the film three and a half out of five stars, remarking, "Jimmy Shergill, Tamannaah Bhatia, Avinash Tiwary starrer heist thriller is unique to the core. The movie shines because of the plot and brilliant performances of each of the actors." She described it as a captivating thriller with intelligent twists, maintaining an engaging pace throughout its runtime and offering a clever, suspense-filled experience that ends on a cliffhanger. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film three out of five stars, stating, "Neeraj Pandey’s Netflix film is a rare beast in Bollywood, a pulpy character study with twists you don’t see coming." She highlighted that the film is driven by a strong ensemble cast and a plot that continues to surprise, despite its contrivances and occasional plot holes, and praised its focus on storytelling over star power, making it a refreshing OTT offering.

Devesh Sharma of Filmfare rated the film three out of five stars, describing it as "A Humane Thriller With Twists Aplenty." He noted that the film is a slow-burn thriller with standout performances by Jimmy Sheirgill and Avinash Tiwary, despite some loose ends, uneven pacing, and a far-fetched climax. Neeraj Pandey crafts a compelling narrative with shades of noir, making it an interesting watch for fans of the genre. Anuj Kumar of The Hindu reviewed the film, stating, "Jimmy Shergill is on target in this ho-hum heist flick." He suggested that the film presents a compelling premise with a strong performance from Shergill but falls short due to excessive melodrama and predictable twists. While the film begins with promise, its slow pacing and lack of suspense lead to a missed opportunity, making it a superficial thriller stretched beyond its potential.

Chirag Sehgal of News18 awarded the film three and a half out of five stars, noting, "Avinash Tiwary Shines, Tamannaah Bhatia Has Little To Do In This Twisted Mystery." He pointed out that the film keeps viewers on edge with its surprising twists and compelling storytelling, although it underutilizes its talented cast. While Avinash Tiwary excels, the film serves as a light, one-time watch, leaving room for a potential sequel. Archika Khurana of The Times of India rated the film three out of five stars, writing, "Neeraj Pandey’s heist-thriller struggles to maintain tension, despite strong performances." She noted that the film starts with an intriguing diamond heist and showcases strong performances, particularly by Jimmy Shergill and Avinash Tiwary, with Tamannaah Bhatia adding emotional depth as a single mother. While visually striking with moments of brilliance, its sluggish pacing and predictable twists make it a one-time watch for fans of the genre.

Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times reviewed the film, describing it as "Neeraj Pandey’s Tom and Jerry-esque thriller is decent, far from perfect." He pointed out that it offers a strong start with an intriguing heist and compelling performances. However, the film falters due to a shift in tone midway, slow pacing, melodrama, and a predictable twist, preventing it from fully delivering on its thriller potential. Sonil Dedhia from Rediff.com rated the film two and a half out of five stars, calling it an "Underwhelming Thriller." He argued that it offers an intriguing premise and strong performances but struggles with uneven pacing and underdeveloped character arcs. While it has moments of suspense and moral ambiguity, the film fails to sustain tension, making it a one-time watch for fans of Neeraj Pandey’s work.

Zinia Bandyopadhyay of India Today awarded the film three out of five stars, commenting, "Runtime hampers the fate of Avinash Tiwary's drama." She noted that it offers a solid premise with strong performances, particularly from Avinash Tiwary and Jimmy Shergill, but falters due to its stretched runtime, uneven pacing, and underdeveloped screenplay. While it starts strong, the film ultimately becomes more of a melodrama than the gripping heist thriller it could have been, leaving hope for a more refined sequel.

See also

• List of Netflix India originals

External links

• Sikandar Ka Muqaddar at IMDb
• Sikandar Ka Muqaddar on Netflix

• Sikandar Ka Muqaddar at Bollywood Hungama