If you’ve been scrolling through streaming platforms in search of your next espionage fix, chances are the title Salakaar might have popped up. With its intriguing premise and a cast featuring Naveen Kasturia, Mouni Roy, Mukesh Rishi, and Surya Sharma, it’s marketed as a tribute to India’s legendary spymaster, Ajit Doval. Sounds promising, right? Sadly, while the setup hints at an “Argo meets Indian intelligence” kind of ride, the execution falls short in more ways than one.
In this detailed Salakaar review, we’ll break down what the show gets right, where it stumbles, and why its short runtime might be its biggest blessing.
The Basics: Cast, Crew, and Platform
Before diving into the details, let’s get the essentials out of the way:
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Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Mouni Roy, Mukesh Rishi, Surya Sharma, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Ashwath Bhatt
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Director: Faruk Kabir
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Platform: JioHotstar
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Runtime: 5 episodes, ~30 minutes each (about 2.5 hours total)
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Rating: ★★
On paper, this sounds like a tight, engaging espionage package. In reality, the brisk runtime feels less like a stylistic choice and more like a mercy for viewers.
A Tale of Two Timelines
The storytelling approach in Salakaar uses a dual timeline structure:
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Present Day (2025): RAW agent Maryam, alias Srishti (Mouni Roy), is tasked with stopping Pakistani Colonel Ashfaqullah (Surya Sharma) from completing a nuclear bomb project. She’s aided by the titular salakaar—India’s National Security Advisor (Purnendu Sharma)—who has a personal history with the Colonel.
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Flashback (1978): We see the NSA in his younger days as field operative Adhir Dayal (played by Naveen Kasturia), on a covert mission in Pakistan to prevent General Zia-ul-Haq (Mukesh Rishi) from developing a nuclear reactor.
This setup could have been thrilling—a blend of modern espionage with historical intrigue. Unfortunately, the treatment robs both timelines of depth and suspense.
Where You’ve Seen This Before
If parts of Salakaar feel familiar, that’s because they are. The plot touches on themes already explored in films and shows like Mission Majnu, Rocket Boys, and the upcoming Saare Jahan Se Acha. The difference? Those productions either leaned on emotional depth, historical detail, or cinematic scale to stand out.
Here, Salakaar had one chance to differentiate itself—through execution. But that’s where things start to unravel.
Fast, But Not Furious
One thing you can’t fault Salakaar for is its pace. The show moves quickly, with back-to-back action and minimal downtime. This is great if you’re looking for a casual weekend binge that doesn’t require much emotional investment.
However, speed comes at a cost. The show sacrifices:
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Character development: We don’t get enough time to truly understand or connect with the characters.
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Emotional stakes: Without depth, high-tension moments feel hollow.
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Story complexity: Complex spy plots need breathing room; here, everything feels rushed.
This makes you wonder—would Salakaar have worked better as a feature film with a bigger budget and more cinematic scope? Possibly.
The Realism Problem
Espionage dramas live or die by their authenticity. Unfortunately, Salakaar repeatedly breaks the immersion with glaring inaccuracies and lazy detailing.
Some standout slip-ups:
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Colonels driving vehicles designated for Generals.
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Referring to the High Commission as an Embassy (they are not the same).
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“Covert” operations carried out in plain sight.
These might seem minor to casual viewers, but for a show marketed as inspired by real intelligence history, they’re serious credibility killers. Think of it like a surgeon showing up to the operating room with gardening gloves—it just doesn’t inspire confidence.
Tone Trouble: Argo or Kingsman?
Another big issue is the show’s inconsistent tone. At times, Salakaar tries to be a gritty, high-stakes political thriller akin to Argo. Other times, it veers into cartoonish territory—think Kingsman, but without the self-awareness or charm.
For example, our spy hero uses buckteeth and over-the-top accents as part of his disguise. It’s hard to take tense infiltration scenes seriously when your lead looks like he’s auditioning for a slapstick comedy.
The Performances: Hits and Misses
If there’s one saving grace for Salakaar, it’s some of the cast performances:
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Naveen Kasturia (Adhir Dayal): Surprisingly adept at action and effortlessly believable as a younger NSA. He brings a grounded presence, even when the script doesn’t do him any favors.
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Mouni Roy (Maryam/Srishti): Criminally underutilized. Despite playing a trained RAW agent, she’s often reduced to a damsel-in-distress role. Still, she squeezes moments of vulnerability and strength from limited material.
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Mukesh Rishi (General Zia): The surprise powerhouse. His menacing screen presence gives the show a genuine sense of threat.
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Surya Sharma & Ashwath Bhatt: Talented actors pushed into exaggerated performances, which undermines their potential impact.
Direction and Execution
Director Faruk Kabir clearly intended Salakaar as both a gripping spy series and a heartfelt tribute to Ajit Doval. Unfortunately, the tribute aspect suffers because the execution never matches the ambition.
For a show meant to glorify a legendary figure, the lack of precision in storytelling and detail almost feels disrespectful to the subject matter.
The Tribute That Wasn’t
Everything from Purnendu Sharma’s appearance to Naveen Kasturia’s fictionalized role nods to Ajit Doval. But here’s the problem with tributes—if they’re not done with enough care, they can end up feeling hollow. Salakaar wants to honor Doval’s legacy but fails to capture the skill, intelligence, and gravitas that made him legendary.
The Verdict
Salakaar isn’t unwatchable—it’s just painfully average. The short runtime works in its favor, the pacing keeps you from getting bored, and some performances (especially Mukesh Rishi’s) elevate certain scenes.
But if you’re looking for a sharp, realistic, and emotionally engaging spy thriller, you’ll walk away disappointed. The search for “India’s Argo” continues.
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Conclusion
In the crowded world of OTT espionage dramas, Salakaar had the ingredients for success: an intriguing premise, a talented cast, and a real-life inspiration worth celebrating. But sloppy detailing, inconsistent tone, and lack of emotional depth keep it from reaching its potential.
It’s a decent weekend watch if you’re after light, fast-paced spy action and can overlook its flaws. But for fans of the genre seeking precision, tension, and depth—this mission is a miss.
