“THE DIPLOMAT” FILM REVIEW:

John Abraham starrer Bollywood movie released in theatres on the occasion of Holi. Directed by Shivam Nair, “The Diplomat” is inspired by true story. John Abraham, who plays the role of diplomat JP Singh, steps in to rescue an Indian woman named Uzma played by Sadia Khateeb from Pakistan.

The film tells the story of Uzma (Sadiya Khateeb), who arrives at the Indian Embassy in Pakistan, stating that she has been forcefully kept in the country and wants to return to India. The High Commissioner officer at the embassy, JP Singh (John Abraham), and his team check through all details and try to get things in line after a discussion with the Pakistan embassy. However, the person who brought Uzma to Pakistan isn’t letting her go, and he is also backed by political and official powers in the country. Will Mr. Singh and our Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, manage to overcome them all dealing with the challenges and intricacies of international diplomacy?

In his last two films, John Abraham has played marshal to a young woman in peril. Vedaa (2024), in which his loner ex-soldier helps a Dalit girl persecuted by upper-caste goons in Rajasthan, was a more typical offering, alternating fights and shootouts with gritty social drama. The Diplomat, though, is a thriller but not an action film. Abraham, with his neat moustache, formal clothes and reasonable tone, is a little stiff, though his solidity is reassuring next to Khateeb’s tremulousness. 

John Abraham shines in his role, but when you look at the original footage of the real JP Singh, you can immediately point out how different John looked in that role. Sadia is actually so cute, and she perfectly suits the character, her milky face did the trick. Kumud Mishra was fun to watch.

The Diplomat stands out as a well-crafted thriller that balances factual storytelling with cinematic engagement. The strong performances, particularly by John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb, combined with Shivam Nair’s direction, make it a noteworthy addition to contemporary Hindi cinema.