Salakaar Review:
Salakaar Review: directed by Faruk Kabir and premiered on JioHotstar on August 8, 2025, dives into the murky world of India-Pakistan espionage.
Starring Naveen Kasturia, Mouni Roy, Mukesh Rishi, and Surya Sharma, the series ambitiously weaves its plot across two timelines—1978 and 2025—loosely inspired by real covert operations around Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions.
Despite its promising premise and star cast, Salakaar struggles to rise above genre clichés, faltering in both narrative depth and execution.
Plot Overview
- Dual Timelines:
The story shuttles between the past (1978) and present (2025). In the former, we follow R&AW operative Adhir Dayal (Naveen Kasturia), embedded in Islamabad as India races to uncover and thwart Pakistan’s secret nuclear program at Kahuta. In 2025, an older Adhir is now National Security Advisor, as a new Pakistani conspiracy involving Colonel Ashfaq Ullah (Surya Sharma)—the grandson of General Zia (Mukesh Rishi)—threatens to destabilize regional peace once again.
The connecting thread: a long-buried espionage mission whose consequences reverberate decades later. - Key Characters:
- Adhir Dayal (Naveen Kasturia) is the youthful, intelligent spy whose past mission is the show’s backbone.
- Mouni Roy plays Mariam/Shristi, a R&AW agent undercover in 2025, tasked with extracting intelligence by getting close to the Pakistani colonel.
- Mukesh Rishi is the menacing General Zia, whose legacy continues to cast a shadow.
- Surya Sharma makes for a ruthlessly obsessed antagonist in the present-day plot.
Performances and Characterization
- Naveen Kasturia delivers an earnest performance, convincingly portraying the transformation from a sharp, quick-thinking field agent in 1978 to a more world-weary statesman in 2025. His subtle gravitas is most effective in the flashback scenes, though the writing doesn’t always serve his efforts.
- Mouni Roy’s role as Mariam is a mixed bag. While she brings a notable vulnerability and resilience, her character is too often used as a damsel in distress rather than a formidable spy.
- Mukesh Rishi steals the show as General Zia—his screen presence and villainy add credibility and tension, propping up otherwise lackluster dramatic stakes.
- Surya Sharma and the rest of the supporting cast are adequate, but their arcs often feel underdeveloped, serving the plot more than character.
What Works: Ambition, Setting, and Inspiration
- Homage to Real Espionage:
The series draws inspiration from the real-life saga of Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, who lived undercover in Pakistan for years during the height of nuclear tensions—a detail woven into the protagonist’s backstory. - Historical Detail:
The period flashbacks are visually compelling, with attention to detail in set design, costuming, and subtle nods to 1970s India-Pakistan dynamics (e.g., references to cricket diplomacy, actual events, and covert missions). - Brisk Runtime:
The decision to keep the show as a five-episode miniseries is merciful; at 2.5 hours total, it alternates between being refreshingly concise and frustratingly shallow.
Where It Fails: Narrative, Writing, and Tone
- Unfocused Execution:
Salakaar suffers from uneven writing—the script leaps from gritty espionage to near-parody, unable to maintain tonal consistency. Characters break covert protocol with comic disguises and illogical spycraft, undermining suspense and believability. - Clichéd Plot Devices:
The show relies heavily on genre clichés—torture scenes, miraculous escapes, convenient plot twists—that dilute what might have been a taut thriller. - Surface-Level Stakes:
For a story about nuclear brinkmanship, Salakaar rarely generates genuine tension or urgency. High-concept moments often lack emotional payoff, and the present-day subplot is especially undercooked. - Female Characters Sidelined:
Despite promises of complexity, Mouni Roy’s spy is mostly saved by men, and her arc plays second fiddle to the patriarchal stakes. - Geographical/Cultural Slips:
Details intended to anchor authenticity—like locations and accents—sometimes fall flat: errors in depicting Kahuta, jarring tonal shifts, and dialogue verging on melodrama.
Cinematography and Music
- Visuals:
Cinematography is notable, especially in 1978 sequences—capturing period details while conveying atmosphere and tension. Still, the present-day plot doesn’t receive the same immersive treatment. - Music:
The background score is effective at ramping up suspense but occasionally overpowers the scene, substituting for narrative punch.
Reception and Industry Context
- Critical Response:
Reviews widely praised the concept, ambition, and select performances (especially Rishi and Kasturia), but almost unanimously criticized the shallow writing, lack of suspense, and character development deficiencies. - Audience Appeal:
The show appeals most to fans of old-school Bollywood spy dramas; viewers expecting a contemporary, gritty take on nuclear espionage will likely be underwhelmed. - Comparison:
Critics noted unfavorable comparisons to series like “The Family Man” or “Fauda”, suggesting Salakaar would have been more relevant—and exciting—two decades ago.
Notable Quotes & Behind the Scenes
- On Mouni Roy’s Role:
Mouni Roy described her character as “brave, complex and resilient,” stating the script’s emotional and political layers pushed her as an artist. - On Inspiration:
Naveen Kasturia spoke about the rigorous demands of playing a field operative, referencing Ajit Doval’s legendary undercover years as an influence for shaping Adhir Dayal’s persona.
Salakaar aspires to be an intelligent, politically charged thriller highlighting unsung heroes of Indian intelligence.
Its sweeping ambition and nostalgic homages are occasionally engaging, buoyed by Mukesh Rishi’s villainous energy and Kasturia’s grounded protagonist.
Unfortunately, weak writing, underdeveloped subplots, and uneven tone squander the high-stakes premise. For viewers craving a sleek, edge-of-the-seat spy series, Salakaar is a serviceable, if unmemorable, watch.
