You know that feeling when a show sounds exciting — spies, nuclear threats, undercover agents — but then you press play and instantly regret your life choices? Yes, Salakaar is that show. When JioHotstar dropped this mini-series, it felt like we were in for something solid. A tribute to NSA Ajit Doval? Inspired by true events? Short five-episode format? Sounds like a win. But sadly, Salakaar turns out to be less “thriller” and more “meh.”
Let’s get into it — what works, what doesn’t, and whether it deserves your watchlist space.
Salakaar Story
Salakaar tries to juggle two timelines — one in 1978, and one in 2025 — both tied together by India’s efforts to stop Pakistan from going nuclear. In the present day, RAW agent Srishti (Mouni Roy), disguised as a teacher in Pakistan, is gathering intel on Colonel Ashfaqullah (Surya Sharma). Meanwhile, back in India, the National Security Advisor (Purnendu Bhattacharya) — her boss — is helping from afar. Oh, and fun twist: he pulled off a similar mission decades ago.
That’s where the flashbacks kick in — and we meet young Adhir Dayal (Naveen Kasturia), undercover in 1978, trying to stop General Zia (Mukesh Rishi) from setting up a nuclear facility.
Now, all this sounds pretty cool in theory. But in reality? The execution is messy. Characters appear and disappear. The connections between timelines feel forced. And by the end, you’re just waiting for the credits to roll so you can move on.
Salakaar Review
Directed by Faruk Kabir, who has earlier directed Vidyut Jammwal’s Khuda Haafiz, has directed Salakaar. Salakaar is fast-paced, but honestly, it is also emotionally empty. It moves quickly, but never lets you care about anything. You’ve got spies using fake buckteeth and funny accents to blend in (yes, really). Covert operations that happen in the open. Generals driving cars not meant for them. Embassies are being called high commissions. The kind of goof-ups you’d expect in a spoof, not a serious spy show.
There are no proper build-ups, no edge-of-your-seat moments. Just random reveals, predictable twists, and some very questionable creative choices (looking at you, random rap track in a 1970s flashback scene). It’s like the makers were in a hurry to wrap it all up — and in doing so, forgot to include the actual suspense.
Salakaar Performance
Honestly, the cast tried. But they weren’t given much to work with. Naveen Kasturia is one of the few saving graces. He brings some seriousness and tries to make his character believable, even when the writing doesn’t help him out.
Mouni Roy could’ve had such a powerful role as a female undercover agent. But she’s barely given any screen time or agency. She mostly just gets rescued or stares at screens while the men do the heavy lifting.
Mukesh Rishi, in full dictator mode as Zia, actually goes all in, and he’s entertaining. At least he’s fun to watch. As for Surya Sharma and Ashwath Bhatt, who are usually fantastic, they’re completely wasted here in roles that go nowhere. No emotional arcs. No real depth. Just a talented cast stuck in a show that never figures out how to use them.
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, Salakaar had so much potential. A real-life inspired spy drama? A tribute to one of India’s most respected intelligence officers? That could’ve been something powerful.
But instead, we got a shallow, surface-level series that feels like it was made in a rush, more focused on looking sleek than telling a meaningful story.
Sure, it’s short. Five episodes, 30 minutes each. But that’s about the only thing that works in its favour. If you’re someone who watches shows just to pass the time, maybe give it a shot. But if you’re expecting tension, smart storytelling, or even one good plot twist, skip this one.
Rating: ⭐⭐ 2/5
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