When the director of masterpieces like Special 26, A Wednesday, and Baby announces a new movie, we are all set to watch it—no questions asked about the cast or reviews! Neeraj Pandey has set such a high bar that I used to believe even if the spot boy from his team directed a movie, it would be worth watching. But my hopes and expectations have taken a deep drop with Sikandar Ka Muqaddar. Despite stellar performances by Jimmy Shergill, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Divya Dutta, and visuals that are a treat, the story and execution left me highly disappointed. I would suggest my loved ones to skip this movie—you can find a better way to spend 143 minutes of your life! The first 10-20 minutes are surely interesting, but after that, even staring at a wall might feel more productive. It’s a stretched-out, weak story with too many dull and depressing moments. Save yourself the time and pick something else for entertainment.

The movie had the potential to be excellent, but its inconsistent script and screenplay let it down at several points. While the story had an interesting premise, it couldn’t maintain its grip throughout. Jimmy Shergill and Avinash Tiwary delivered fantastic performances and managed to elevate the mediocre writing with their acting. They added some much-needed depth and engaging elements to the film. Neeraj Pandey, known for his earlier works like Special 26 and Baby, seemed to have lost his touch with this genre. His previous films had a firm grip on storytelling, but this one lacked the finesse needed to reach its full potential. The main reason for the movie's shortcomings was the weak story, which could have been improved with better attention to detail. However, the cinematography was impressive. The shot composition stood out, especially with the slow pan-in and pan-out techniques, which added a unique visual style. The movie started strong, but as it progressed, it struggled to keep the audience engaged. The shifting between past and present could have been handled with more care and clarity. The character Sikandar was portrayed as a lucky man, having three women deeply in love with him. The scenes between Sikandar and Jaswinder were well-done and carried a certain intensity without feeling overdone. However, the relationships with all three women could have been explored more deeply to create meaningful and impactful bonds. The film also had significant pacing issues. Its lengthy runtime worked against it, making some parts feel unnecessarily dragged. The inclusion of songs wasn’t essential, but they weren’t bad either. The final act was the weakest part of the movie. It felt overly long, uninteresting, and filled with predictable twists that failed to surprise. The ending was especially disappointing, leaving no sense of clarity or satisfaction. It felt as if the creators didn’t know what they wanted to achieve, and the result fell flat. It made the entire experience feel like a waste of time.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is a decent heist thriller directed by Neeraj Pandey, featuring strong performances from Jimmy Sheirgill, Avinash Tiwary, and Tamannaah Bhatia. The story follows Inspector Jaswinder Singh’s relentless pursuit of Sikandar Sharma after a daring diamond heist. While the film impresses visually with its detailed cinematography and has a gripping premise, its prolonged runtime and predictable twists weaken the overall impact. The performances, especially by Jimmy Sheirgill and Avinash Tiwary, stand out, but the narrative struggles to maintain tension. Themes of justice and moral ambiguity are touched upon but not explored deeply.

A thriller about a sub-inspector chasing a suspected diamond thief from an unsolved heist. The plot isn’t completely ordinary, it does try to be something different with its screenplay. However, the screenplay could have been tighter with more crisp direction to make the movie more engaging. The starting was gripping, but as the movie progresses it focuses more on drama and less on the thrill. Which would have been fine if the runtime was reduced, it’s still kind of intriguing to watch. But the climax felt unintentionally silly. The peformances are decent though.

The movie offers a decent storyline with an engaging premise. However, if you're a regular watcher of crime thrillers, you might find yourself guessing the thief's identity and predicting some suspenseful moments early on. Despite this, the narrative builds enough intrigue to keep you invested. The climax, while not as impactful as one might expect, is still well-executed and ties up the story in a satisfying way. The film doesn’t drag, but its length does feel noticeable at times as the plot steadily unfolds. Even so, the suspenseful build-up ensures you remain glued to your seat until the very end. The performances from the cast are strong, with each actor delivering their role convincingly. The cinematography is also commendable, enhancing the overall mood and tension of the story. Overall, it’s a solid one-time watch, especially for fans of the genre. While it may not offer groundbreaking surprises, its engaging narrative and good production make it worth your time.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is an underwhelming attempt at a thriller that ends up being more of a convoluted drama. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the film starts promisingly with a slick and engaging narrative but loses its grip midway. The introduction of multiple plot points towards the climax complicates the story unnecessarily, resulting in a poorly executed and incomplete ending. While the premise had potential, the screenplay fails to deliver, dragging a 140-minute runtime that feels excessive. Avinash Tiwary shines as Sikandar, effectively portraying vulnerability, while Jimmy Shergill excels as a cop, adding depth to the otherwise lackluster narrative. Tamannaah's performance, however, fails to impress. The much-criticized plot twist derails the film’s emotional core, frustrating viewers who were initially invested. Ultimately, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar feels like a missed opportunity—a mediocre film that squanders its potential. A disappointment for fans expecting Neeraj Pandey's usual finesse.