Jaideep Ahlawat’s ‘Jewel Thief’ dance: Do "art house" actors get typecast?

Jaideep Ahlawat and Saif Ali Khan’s recently-released Netflix film, ‘Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins’ made waves even before its release. While the movie reviews are flowing in, the reason for its initial virality is something worth discussing – Jaideep's dance sequence.

Known for his powerful, grounded performances in gritty roles, the actor’s smooth and confident steps showcased a side of him many didn't know existed. This unexpected reveal has captured the attention of the public.

However, that makes us wonder: are stars like Jaideep getting typecast and not getting to show off all their skills the way other commercial film-heroes do? In Bollywood, there are so many different flavours of performance. But do those who come from theatre backgrounds or do “art” films get to showcase talents other than acting?

From serious roles to going viral on the gram

Jaideep’s career has been built on roles that demand gravitas—be it in ‘Paatal Lok’, ‘Raazi’, or 'An Action Hero.’ Fans have been bowled over by how he portrays deeply-layered characters with nuance and restraint. But what many forget is that an actor’s skill isn’t confined to doing similar roles, but instead having a fun mix of commercial and offbeat work to their name.

Jaideep’s dance routine reminds us that talent, when boxed in by the industry’s biases, often goes unseen. His song sequence from ‘Jewel Thief’, where he can be seen grooving beside Saif Ali Khan went viral on social media and fans could not take their eyes off Ahlawat. Be it his moves, his expression or his overall aura, this was a surprise everyone loved.

However, it did make us think what took Jaideep so long to get has dancing shoes on?

It’s not just about Jaideep...

This isn’t a Jaideep-only problem. Bollywood has a longstanding habit of dividing its actors into categories: the "serious" ones who belong in indie films and the "mainstream" ones who lead big-banner masala movies.

Meanwhile, many debutants—often star kids or industry insiders—are launched into glossy projects with choreographed dance numbers and designer wardrobes.

More about ‘Jewel Thief’

Directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, 'Jewel Thief' features Saif Ali Khan as Rehan Roy, a skilled thief, and Jaideep Ahlawat as Rajan Aulakh, a mafia boss. Kunal Kapoor plays Vikram Patel, a detective keen on capturing Roy, while Nikita Dutta appears as Farah, a character closely linked to the central heist plot involving the African Red Sun jewel.

Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Budapest, Istanbul, and Mumbai, this high-stakes thriller unravels through a thrilling maze of mind games, betrayals, and adrenaline-fuelled action—promising a cinematic ride that’s as stylish as it is suspenseful.

While the film has opened to mixed reviews, we wait to see what the audience thinks of this Jaideep and Saif-starrer.