Salakaar Review: Naveen Kasturia's Spy Thriller - Hit or Miss?

My Journey Through Salakaar: When Expectations Meet Reality

Settling into my couch last weekend with a cup of chai, I thought I was about to witness India's answer to Argo. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

The Setup That Had Me Hooked

Let me paint you the picture that got me excited. Here I am, scrolling through JioHotstar, and I see this trailer for Salakaar. Nuclear secrets! Espionage! Naveen Kasturia looking all serious and spy-like! After binge-watching Special Ops twice and being thoroughly impressed by Kasturia in Aspirants, I was ready for what seemed like the perfect Friday night entertainment.

The premise alone had me: a story inspired by real-life NSA Ajit Doval's covert missions, jumping between 1978 and 2025, following RAW agents trying to infiltrate Pakistan's nuclear facility. I mean, come on – how could this not be incredible?

Spoiler alert: Reality is more complicated than trailers.

Meeting Our Characters

Adhir Dayal - The Heart of the Story

I have to give it to Naveen Kasturia – watching him transform from the lovable entrepreneur in Pitchers to this steely-eyed spy was genuinely mesmerizing. There's this scene where Adhir is preparing for his mission, and you can see the weight of responsibility in his eyes. Kasturia doesn't just act like a spy; he becomes one. His quiet intensity made me forget I was watching the same guy who made me laugh in TVF shows.

Every time he appeared on screen, I found myself leaning forward. There's something about his performance that makes you believe this man could actually blend into enemy territory without anyone suspecting a thing.

Mariam - The Surprise Element

Now, I'll be honest – I wasn't expecting much from Mouni Roy. I'd seen her in the usual glamorous roles, and I figured this would be more of the same. But she caught me completely off guard. In 2025's timeline, her portrayal of this complex operative dealing with the psychological toll of undercover work felt... real. Raw, even.

There's this moment where she's processing intelligence, and you can see the internal conflict – the human cost of being a spy. I wished the script had given her more screen time because what she did with the limited material was impressive.

The Scene Stealer

Mukesh Rishi as General Zia? Chef's kiss. Remember how intimidating he was in Sarfarosh? He brings that same menacing energy here. Every scene with him had me on edge. The man knows how to command presence without saying much – just his expressions were enough to make my skin crawl in the best possible way.

Where My Excitement Started Wavering

The Timeline Confusion

Here's where I started scratching my head. The series jumps between 1978 and 2025, and honestly, just when I was getting completely absorbed in the historical storyline – which, by the way, was way more engaging – BAM! We're suddenly in 2025 with AI glasses and tech-heavy operations.

I found myself constantly readjusting, trying to figure out where I was in the story. It felt like being yanked back and forth between two different shows. The transitions weren't smooth enough for me to stay emotionally invested in both timelines simultaneously.

The Details That Made Me Cringe

Look, I'm not a military expert, but even I noticed when they kept calling High Commission buildings "embassies." And don't get me started on the military ranks that didn't match the vehicles. For a series asking me to believe it's "based on true events," these details matter. They pulled me right out of the story.

The Dialogue That Made Me Wince

There were moments when characters delivered lines that made me pause the show and think, "Did someone really write that?" Lines like "Bomb to fod nahi paaye, isiliye bacho ka sar phodte hai" felt forced and clunky. I could almost see the writers trying too hard to make it sound profound.

The series couldn't decide if it wanted to be a gritty, realistic thriller like Argo or a patriotic drama, and this uncertainty showed in the writing.

The History That Made It Worth It

Despite my frustrations, there's something genuinely fascinating about the historical context here. Pakistan's nuclear program at Kahuta was a real threat. A.Q. Khan was a real person. The intelligence operations were real.

Sitting there, knowing that actual RAW operatives undertook similar missions – risking everything with no guarantee of public recognition – gave weight to what I was watching. Even when the execution stumbled, I was reminded of the real heroes whose stories inspired this series.

In 1978, Pakistan was racing to develop nuclear capabilities after India's 1974 Pokhran test. The stakes were incredibly high, and people really did put their lives on the line for national security. That historical backdrop kept me invested even when the storytelling faltered.

What Actually Worked

The show looks gorgeous. The 1970s sequences have this authentic texture that transported me back in time without feeling overdone. The locations feel real, and you can clearly distinguish between the two time periods just by the visual treatment.

The background score didn't try to manipulate my emotions with bombastic music – it supported the story quietly and effectively. I appreciated that restraint.

The Patriotism Question

I was pleasantly surprised that Salakaar didn't fall into the jingoistic trap that many Indian productions stumble into these days. It treats Pakistani characters as more than cartoon villains, though they're still somewhat one-dimensional. The series shows restraint from chest-thumping nationalism while maintaining patriotic pride.

My Final Verdict

Here's the thing – after finishing all five episodes (which took me just one evening, really), I sat back and wondered how I felt about the experience.

Disappointed? A little, yes. I went in expecting India's Argo and got something much more ordinary.

But also... satisfied in unexpected ways. Naveen Kasturia's performance alone made it worthwhile. Watching him embody this character with such commitment reminded me why I became a fan in the first place. Mouni Roy's surprising depth in her limited role was a pleasant discovery. And Mukesh Rishi proving once again that he's criminally underutilized in our industry.

The series runs just 2.5 hours across five episodes – perfect for a lazy weekend. Even with its flaws, it offers enough entertainment value and genuinely stellar performances to justify the time investment.

Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely, but with the right expectations. Don't go in hoping for a genre-defining masterpiece. Instead, approach it as a well-intentioned effort to honor unsung heroes, elevated by committed performances despite storytelling stumbles.

Sometimes the most honest thing you can say about entertainment is that it's both flawed and worthwhile – and that's exactly what Salakaar is. It's a reminder that making great content is incredibly difficult, and even when ambitions exceed execution, the effort to tell important stories still matters.

So grab some snacks, settle in for an evening, and appreciate it for what it is: a sincere attempt to celebrate real heroes, brought to life by actors who clearly cared about doing justice to the material, even when the material didn't always do justice to them.

FAQ Section

Q: Is Salakaar based on a true story?
A: Yes, Salakaar is inspired by real events and reportedly draws from the experiences of current NSA Ajit Doval during his intelligence operations in Pakistan during the 1970s.

Q: How many episodes does Salakaar have?
A: Salakaar consists of 5 episodes with a total runtime of approximately 2.5 hours, making it a relatively quick binge-watch.

Q: Where can I watch Salakaar?
A: Salakaar is streaming exclusively on JioHotstar and is available in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali, and Kannada.

Q: Who are the main cast members of Salakaar?
A: The series stars Naveen Kasturia as Adhir Dayal, Mouni Roy as Mariam/Srishti, Mukesh Rishi as General Zia, and Surya Sharma as Colonel Ashfaq Ullah.

Q: Is Salakaar worth watching despite mixed reviews?
A: While reviews are mixed, Salakaar is worth watching primarily for Naveen Kasturia's excellent performance and its short runtime. Just manage expectations regarding the overall execution.