The Diplomat is a Hindi movie releasing in the theatres on the Holi weekend (March 14). Directed by Shivam Nair, this political thriller stars John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb in lead roles along with Revathy, Kumud Mishra and Sharib Hashmi in key roles. The movie premises to offer a fresh take on espionage genre, belding emotion and intellect. It tells the real life story of Uzma Ahmed who was forced to get married and held captive by her husband in Pakistan’s Buner in 2017.
What is The Diplomat About?
The Diplomat is a political thriller inspired by the real-life story of Uzma Ahmed (Sadia Khateeb), an Indian woman who sought refuge at the Indian Embassy in Pakistan after being forced into marriage. The film follows JP Singh (John Abraham), a seasoned Indian diplomat, as he navigates the treacherous waters of international diplomacy to ensure Uzma’s safe return to India.
The Diplomat Movie Review
Cast: John Abraham, Sadia Khateeb, Kumud Mishra, Revathy, Sharib Hashmi amongst others
Director: Shivam Nair
Release Date: March 14, 2025 (in theatres)
Streaming Partner: Netflix
What’s hot about The Diplomat?
What wins for The Diplomat at the very onset is the authentic storytelling. The film avoids jingoism and instead focuses on the complexities of diplomacy, presenting a balanced and intelligent narrative. The direction by Shivam Nair (earlier directed Naam Shabana, Ahista Ahista) handles the political drama with great ease and skillfully uses silences and measured pacing to heighten the tension.
The screenplay, penned by Ritesh Shah (of Tehran, Batla House, Faraaz fame), is sharp and engaging, with dialogues that resonate deeply without resorting to melodrama.
With the story, direction and screenplay in place, the film next gets the casting right and puts together a powerful cast. John Abraham delivers a restrained yet impactful performance as JP Singh, showcasing his ability to convey strength through subtlety. There are scenes where you’d feel that John is all set to hit something or someone, but he plays his part of a Diplomat impactfully using his intellect instead of might. This role was right up Akshay Kumar’s alley. But John has done a wonderful job. I would really want to see him work with Kabir Khan again (Kabul Express, New York) or a Shojit Sircar, who would be able to bring out the best he has to offer, and who would not stay limited to using his physicality for spectacular action sequences.
Sadia Khateeb shines as Uzma Ahmed, bringing vulnerability and resilience to her character. There are a few scenes where she gave an outstanding performance. 1) When she is repeatedly slapped by the man she trusted and came to Pakistan for, and the reality of her situation dawns upon her. 2) When she is sexually assaulted for the first time. 3) When she is sitting across from John during the questioning.
Kumud Mishra is delightful in his small yet important role while I feel that an actor like Sharib Hashmi could have been used better. Revathy, who plays Late Sushma Swaraj looks the part and plays her few scenes convincingly.
Talking about the cinematography, the visuals effectively capture the high-stakes environment of international diplomacy. The background score subtly enhances the emotional and suspenseful moments. The sound has been used to maximize the impact, especially the scene right after a bomb blast when John’s character is posted in Afghanistan, the way it has been treated will give you goosebumps and leave a lump in your throat. The visual may also remind you all that we have been seeing of Gaza.
The Diplomat also has some good songs – Naina, Ghar and Bharat, which deserved better treatment. But guess the makers didn’t want to dilute the stark tone of the film and therefore barely used these. No wonder, these don’t stand out while you are watching the film, but do give The Diplomat album a listen.
Watch The Diplomat trailer here:
What’s not?
The first half may seem a bit slow as the film takes its own time to introduce us to the characters. At times it leaves you exasperated to know more about Uzma Ahmed and what really happened with her. Thankfully, it picks up right before the internal and the second half is more engaging. Also, a word of caution for fans of high-octane action, especially in films starring John Abraham, this film prioritizes intellect over spectacle.
Verdict
The Diplomat is a refreshing departure from conventional Bollywood thrillers, offering a thought-provoking and emotionally charged narrative. With stellar performances, intelligent writing, and a focus on diplomacy over action, it’s a film that stands out for its substance and depth. A must-watch for fans of political dramas and nuanced storytelling.
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