‘Gadar 2’ runs riot at domestic box office

This newly released Netflix crime caper illustrates everything that is currently wrong with commercial Bollywood films. The silly stinker was not good enough for a cinema release, so it was dumped straight on to a streaming platform, with style clearly taking precedence over substance.

Saif Ali Khan plays a suave, globetrotting thief who is blackmailed by a mysterious underworld figure (Jaideep Ahlawat) into stealing a priceless diamond from a museum in Mumbai. Naturally, there is a backstory involving the guilt-ridden protagonist and a law enforcement officer hot on his trail. But instead of offering a gripping battle of attrition or an engaging heist thriller, the film descends into a muddled melting pot of tired clichés and what seem like a series of self-indulgent moments from the lead cast.