Tehran

Tehran isn't just about spies and missions it's about emotions, choices, and the people behind the secrets. John Abraham delivers a performance full of sincerity and restraint, making every moment feel real. Hadi Khanjanpour's acting is outstanding, adding quiet strength to the story. This film touched me in a way I didn't expect ...it's powerful, yet beautifully human.

Watching tehran feels like checking off boxes on a scifi cliche list. The plot unfolds exactly as you'd expect, with no surprises, no tension, and barely any reason to stay engaged. Characters go through the motions, the dialogue is flat, and the pacing is glacial. Every twist is telegraphed miles ahead, and the emotional beats land with all the impact of a damp sponge. Even the visuals, while competent, can't save the film from its crushing lack of imagination. It's not just borin...it's the kind of boring that makes you question why you started watching in the first place.

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.

Wow, what a cinematic gem... if your idea of fun is two hours of mostly Farsi dialogue with disappearing subtitles, a plot that clearly got lost, and pacing slower than molasses. I didn't learn anything, didn't enjoy anything, and would happily give negative stars if I could. Time well wasted! 0000000.

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.