Tehran

Iran wants to kill you. Israel has deserted you, and your very own country, India, has given up on you. John Abraham's latest offering, Tehran, has him playing one of the most complex and riveting characters in his several-decade-long filmography. Over the last few years, John has organically steered towards geopolitical stories and characters that aren't just another spy or part of a covert agency.

In 'Tehran', John's character, Rajeev Kumar, gets involved in a very complicated case when a bomb blast in Delhi targeting an Israeli diplomat kills an innocent flower-seller. The incident disturbs Rajeev Kumar to such an extent that he decides to put his life at stake to get to the bottom of the matter.

Set against the backdrop of the Iran-Israel conflict, the film examines how ordinary people become collateral damage in someone else's war. Unlike many thrillers in the genre, 'Tehran' doesn't exploit the premise; instead, it sensitively shows every possible facet of the price one has to pay to wage a war.

The screenplay by Bindni Karia, co-written with Ritesh Shah and Ashish Prakash Verma, is the film's strongest asset. Dialogues peppered with Farsi lend authenticity, while director Arun Gopalan draws solid performances from his cast. Neeru Bajwa and Manushi Chhillar make their mark in supporting roles. But, 'Tehran' works because of the conviction that John puts into his role. One of his finest performances till date, the film is a testament that, with a good script and a visionary director, all an actor needs to do is just surrender and keep faith.

A standout is Hadi Khajanpour as antagonist Asraf Khan, who is an absolutely brilliant find. He is not just menacing for the sake of it, but also a sharply etched, powerful character.

The way the film has been shot visually is also impressive. From the dusty lanes of Delhi to Abu Dhabi, the camerawork is brilliant. The action sequences feel very organic and real, with combat scenes that are gritty and extremely tense.

Tehran is a masterclass on how to deliver Deshbhakti without lehraa-oing Tiranga or chanting Jai Hind on the Independence Day! It celebrates the unsung heroes, who are mostly abandoned by their countries for being on missions that are either off-paper or not approved at all!

Whenever John Abraham is an alone man on a mission, he comes out with a brilliant result-be it Madras Cafe or Tehran. With its intelligent script, the film becomes an absolute must-watch for anyone who appreciates quality storytelling and has the patience to research on international relationships and politics before diving into the film.

John Abraham has given a fine performance as DCP Rajeev Kumar after his super acting in " The diplomat". Here in a story based on true events he plays a highly motivated police officer on a self propelled vengeance mission to eliminate a terrorist. This covert and unauthorized mission takes him to Tehran all this even while he is abandoned by his own country.

The movie's narrative has more of intrigue and emotions as compared to action and so the one hour 55 minutes feels like three hours. At some places the movie does drag though most sequences are realistically done and full marks to the director and John.

The director has done a fine job with the script which allows him to project the necessary seriousness required. Also justice has been done in the depiction of the geopolitical tensions. Full marks for the cinematography and background music which greatly enhance the effect of the dramatic scenes. Results of some fine location shooting can be seen. The supporting actors like Maanushi Chhillar, Neeru Bajwa, and others have chipped in with realistic performances which further heighten the drama and the tension of the scenes.

Far better than war2 and coolie... Most watched movie. Amazing performance by john abraham and most importantly that all characters perform objectively good, superb story line which defines the face of R&AW. Must watch ones if you want to experience the new story.. not a common india pak patriotic same one.

This beautifully crafted thriller-arguably fitting right into the spy-thriller genre-is based on true events, and I'm genuinely shocked it never saw a theatrical release. From start to finish, it's a cut above for its impeccable cinematography, hauntingly effective music, immersive background score, authentic language use, and above all, the sheer brilliance of its performances.

Frankly, I would take this any day over WAR or any over-the-top YRF "spy universe" spectacle. This film's storytelling is grounded, its tension masterfully built, and its realism makes it far more gripping than the formulaic blockbusters we often get.

It truly deserved the grandeur and audience reach that only a theatrical release can offer. I can't understand why Maddock Films stayed away from giving it that platform-it's a missed opportunity for cinema lovers everywhere.

It is an exciting and fast-paced political thriller starring John Abraham. The story, inspired by real events, is set against the tense Iran-Israel conflict. John Abraham delivers a strong performance, and the Iranian actors also stand out. The movie has a gripping plot and feels realistic, with action and drama balanced well. If you like spy stories with some depth, this one is worth watching.