The Diplomat Movie Review & Release Live update: John Abraham starrer off to slow start at box office on Holi weekend

Sadia Khateeb, the star of 'The Diplomat', has spoken out about the importance of women standing up against domestic violence and sexual abuse. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, she emphasized that silence only empowers perpetrators and urged women to seek help and demand justice. Khateeb believes every woman deserves safety, dignity, and a life free from fear, and it is crucial for women to stand up for themselves both on-screen and in real life.

She hopes to empower women to recognize their inner strength, break their silence, and refuse to accept mistreatment. Khateeb expressed empathy for those who have faced domestic violence but stressed that women must build their core on courage. “Hum chaye kisi bhi field mei rahe agar hum kamzoor rahe hume koi nahi support karega, hume apne liye stand lena hai vaise aurtein hai na gharo mei jo domestic violence se joojh rahi hai mai unse kahungi ki khud ki tum madat nahi karoge toh khuda tumhari madat nahi karega. Recognize the fact that you are a victim recognize the fact that what’s going on is wrong. Hum pyaar mei hote hai hume samjah nahi aata hai. We have to know that nahi, pyaar mein ho, nafrat mein ho, haath nahi laga sakta, pyaar mein ho, rafrat mein ho, shadi mein ho, bina shadi ke ho, chhu nahi sakta hai bina ijazat ke,” she emphasized.

Sadia Khateeb talked about her childhood crush on John's character, Kabir, from the film Dhoom and how it affected her. In an interview with India Today, Sadia said, "I was in Year Four when I first saw Dhoom and met Kabir. That's when I fell for the bike scenes and everything about him. I remember going back to school and telling everyone that I had a boyfriend named Kabir who rode a bike and had long hair. They all believed there was a real Kabir in Kashmir."

One Twitter review reads, "A thrilling ride with John Abraham in ‘The Diplomat’! Unique storyline, top-notch action, and stellar acting. Definitely worth the watch!"

One Twitter user wrote, "A decent film which is very simple, Sadia khateeb is the soul of the film, john abraham has tried something different. This could have been a uri or raazi if some more masala is added, it is based on a true story and it's good to see that such stories are coming out #AkshayKumar ki on screen sister #sadiakhateeb is the jaan of this film, she is charismatic on screen, from dialogue delivery to expressions and emotions, she is top notch, she should get more work @TheJohnAbraham is good, he tried something out of his comfort zone, he challenged himself and he should be appreciated for that."

'The Diplomat', headlined by John Abraham and Sadia Khateeb, has caught attention for several reasons. One of the highlights of the movie is John's work, which is getting appreciation from netizens.

One of the internet users took to X and wrote, “@TheJohnAbraham and @shivamNair collaborate on this compelling human drama. #TheDiplomat is a very good film. Steers away from jingoism and allows innovative story telling. John is subtle classy and effective. Nair’s best. Many more to go @writish.”

A user posted, “#TheDiplomat ka plot bahut hi interesting hai! John Abraham ki acting ne ❤️ liya ???? Thriller hai, aur tension build-up kaafi accha hai! Bas thoda lengthy laga Action sequences toh killer hain! John ki intensity dekhni chahiye! ???? #JohnAbraham #TheDiplomatReview @TheJohnAbraham”

“#TheDiplomat is a well-made film. I couldn’t help admire #ShivamNair’s colour palette & the film’s beautiful camera work helps to coat the dark & intense themes in the movies. #JohnAbraham is very strong as the composed & consistent consulate. Loved him,” read another Tweet on X.

John Abraham's performance in 'The Diplomat' is earning him high praise. Filmmaker Anurag Kashayap also shared words of appreciation for the actor.

“I really liked 'The Diplomat'. I told John, ‘After a long time, I am seeing you as a very good actor.’ He is not doing unnecessary action or herogiri in the film. He is solely playing a character,” said Anurag in an interaction with The Hindu.

Anurag and John previously collaborated on the 2007 movie 'No Smoking,' which initially faced challenges at the box office but later achieved cult status. In their recent conversation, John shared his enthusiasm for creating a sequel to 'No Smoking' with Anurag. However, Anurag did not entirely reject the idea; he highlighted the importance of having a strong storyline. He explained, “John really means it, but I want a subject. Over time, a film achieves a cult following, making it even more daunting to meet people’s expectations. I want to step into that zone only if the subject matter is unique.”

Ahead of the release of 'Diplomat' John Abraham met External Affairs Minister of India and MP (Rajya Sabha) from Gujarat State S. Jaishankar. Sharing pictures from their interaction, John posted - "Was a pleasure and honour to meet a man who I so intently follow, we discussed diplomacy, the North East and football amongst many other things. Truly an honour Sir!"

A tense political thriller anchored by John Abraham’s commanding performance

The breathtaking valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hide a grim reality—where women are forced into submission, and young boys are trained to wield firearms. Among those trapped is Uzma Ahmed (Sadia Khateeb), a young Indian woman deceived into marriage, held captive, and subjected to sexual violence. Director Shivam Nair’s The Diplomat brings her true story to life, tracing her fight to return to India and how the nation stood unwaveringly behind her. Her rescue was made possible through the relentless efforts of the Indian Embassy, particularly Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh (John Abraham) and then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (Revathy).

Recently, in a conversation with ANI, Abraham shared what drew him to the film, describing it as an "emotional, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller" rather than just another patriotic story.

He said, "I didn't do the film just because it's patriotic; I did it because it's an emotional, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller."

Comparing it to the film Argo, the actor added, "It's like a film called Argo. If you watch that film, it's a true story about the US Embassy in Iran and how they had to get people out. You won't move when you watch that film; you'll just be glued to your seat. That feeling is what I got from The Diplomat."

Ahead of the release of his new film "The Diplomat", actor John Abraham on Thursday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed diplomacy, football, the northeast and the upcoming movie. Directed by Shivam Nair, "The Diplomat" hits the theatres on Friday.
"An interesting conversation with @TheJohnAbraham on his new movie The Diplomat. As also on football, the North East and our respective worlds," Jaishankar posted on X.

The minister also shared a couple of photos of the meeting, in which the two could be holding a jersey bearing the number 9 and the name 'Jaishankar'.

Sadia Khateeb is all set to captivate audiences once again with her next, "The Diplomat".

The project based on true events follows the journey of Uzma Ahmed, an Indian woman (Sadia Khateeb) who finds herself trapped in Pakistan after being deceived into marriage.

The film will see John Abraham in the role of J.P. Singh, the Indian diplomat who plays a crucial role in her rescue. Sadia Khateeb shared that she bonded with co-star John Abraham over their mutual love for motorbikes.

She revealed, “The day I met him, I told him about my love for bikes and how it all began when I watched Dhoom as a child in first grade. I was completely mesmerised and obsessed with bikes throughout my school years. When I visited John sir’s home, he showed me his garage—it was filled with the most stunning bikes! I kept asking if he would let me ride one, but he wouldn’t. I even joked with him on set, saying, ‘If our film does well, please gift me a bike,’ and he generously agreed. Now, I’m really hoping the film is a success and that he remembers our conversation!”

Sadia Khateeb also talked about the invaluable advice John Abraham gave her. She revealed, “More recently, while my brother and I were considering buying a sports bike, I asked John sir for his opinion on two options we were debating. He helped us make the right choice, and now that we’ve finally got it, I can’t wait to take it for a ride—hopefully after the promotions are done!”

John also mentioned that Saurabh Sachdeva also met JP Singh, and studied him, and he said, “How do I make this guy into this guy?”.

“So, we spent 2 to 3 weeks on just developing me into JP Singh. Then we went back into reading. So, when we went on set, we were 99% there. Then Shivam used to just brief us on the scene but he reminded me after every shot, like after the interrogation scene, he used to push me to think like the character”, he added.

Actor John Abraham, who is awaiting the release of his film ‘The Diplomat’ has given a peek into one of the crucial lines from the film ahead of its release.

John spoke with IANS in the run up to the film’s release, and broke down his process of approaching his titular character.

The actor told IANS, “There is a very important line in the film that says, ‘I am a diplomat by profession, not by character’. So, my character in the film is living two parallel lives. What Shivam (the director) has successfully done is he has shown the life of a diplomat. But, parallelly he has also shown what my character is going through in his personal life. Coming back to how we developed this character, Shivam was very clear from the start. He said, ‘I do not want to see John Abraham, I want to see JP Singh’. Now, we all know that I come with the image of being an action hero, I fight on screen”.

He continued, “Now, for a director it is challenging to get me into that mould. Yes, we went into that mould in ‘Madras Cafe’, we went into that mould in probably ‘No Smoking’, and in ‘Parmanu’. So, we have been into that space successfully. What Shivam did was, after we had readings, he put me on to Saurabh Sachdeva, where I started developing myself in terms of the character, JP Singh. Body language, little, little things, dialogue delivery, everything had to be JP Singh.

John Abraham, who currently awaits the release of his upcoming film ‘The Diplomat’, spoke about closely observing Indian diplomat J.P. Singh when he met him on the set of the movie.

The film is based on true events. The actor portrays an Indian diplomat rescuing an Indian woman from Pakistan. John also shared insights about the workshops he attended for his character and how they helped him.

Talking about observing Indian diplomat J.P. Singh when he met him on set, he said: “J.P. Singh sir came on set, and I observed his body language, the way he spoke—bahut hi sweet, simple, lekin pata hai jaise shatranj ke table pe, on the chess table, how you have your moves, I think he thinks 10 moves ahead.”

John told IANS, “I am following what’s happening between Israel and Hamas, and also the Russia-Ukraine war, I am just cued in on that. I feel Jerusalem is at the centre of every conflict in the world today. The whole conflict between East and West Jerusalem, the wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Wailing Wall or the Western Wall, the history from 1947, the Abraham Accord, the Balfour Accord and everything, that has led to what’s happening across the world today”.

The actor also feels that having geo-political knowledge makes a person more aware, and enhances their ability to create an informed opinion honing their decision making capabilities.

He said, “When you have that kind of geopolitical knowledge at the back of your head, like even my character in ‘The Diplomat’, if he has it at the back of his head, sometimes you don't say it. But your audience knows that this guy knows his stuff. So, that's very important”.

Recently, Israel conducted air-strikes in Damascus, Syria. Talking about the bombings in Damascus, John said, “Just when Damascus was coming, a little into shape! What's gone wrong? I have got this geo-political anxiety, you know how people have environmental anxiety, I have got geo-political anxiety. What's happening with the world”.

Actor John Abraham, who is gearing up for his upcoming movie ‘The Diplomat’, has a keen interest in geo-politics. In fact, it’s his interest in geo-politics that drew him to this film. However, an unchecked interest could easily turn into obsession which can later induce anxiety and mess-up the cortisol and adrenaline levels in the body.

John has himself admitted that at times he gets geo-political anxiety similar to how people have environmental anxiety. Well, it's not particularly a good thing for someone like John, who has insane fitness levels.

The actor spoke with IANS ahead of the film’s release, and shared which geo-political development has caught his fancy, of late.

John told IANS, “I am following what’s happening between Israel and Hamas, and also the Russia-Ukraine war, I am just cued in on that. I feel Jerusalem is at the centre of every conflict in the world today. The whole conflict between East and West Jerusalem, the wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Wailing Wall or the Western Wall, the history from 1947, the Abraham Accord, the Balfour Accord and everything, that has led to what’s happening across the world today”.

Preparing for the role of JP Singh required Abraham to immerse himself in the character, for which he said he undertook training from actor and acting coach Saurabh Sachdeva, known for his role in "Animal".

"Shivam put me through a drill. We went through reading with the entire cast of this film. Then, I took a break and met Saurabh Sachdeva, who coached me on this character. For three weeks, I was with Saurabh every day," he said, adding that he and Sachdeva met JP Singh to portray his body language and mannerism correctly.

The actor said he was captivated by the script of "The Diplomat" from the first reading.

"I love geopolitics, so I thought this looks interesting, and I fell in love with what I read, credit to Ritesh Shah (writer). For me, it's about the story; it's immaterial whether you see a woman or a man in front. If the painting is beautiful, all the characters look beautiful," the actor said.

One of the film's standout themes is the challenges faced by women in society, and Abraham said more awareness is needed to bring a change.

"Women, children and animals are not safe in India. I've said this before, and I'll keep repeating it, till someone hears it. Children and animals are not safe because there aren't too many laws. With regards to women, you need to have strict laws. I'm not a law expert, so I'm not going to get into it.

"You go to the Middle East, Dubai, women are safe. There must be some reason why they are safe there and are not here. It stems out of education and awareness, there is a multi-pronged approach. We are a developing society; we will get there, but it will take us some time. But along the way, there is going to be a lot of collateral damage, and you see it every day."

John Abraham believes it is now important to focus on the basics that make any story click with the audience and that's writing.

"My vision as a producer and as an actor is just to create good stories and reach out to a wider audience. Do I want the numbers? I want the Rs 100 crore, 200s, 300s and the 400 crores. We all want that, but we want that with good stories. That's the difference.

"We as an audience and trade are putting too much stress into the bifurcation of how the money is being spent. We've to cut all this noise, go back to writing, go back to where we started from and why we wanted to make films."

Admitting that he also has been "guilty" of prioritising box office, Abraham said he now recognises the significance of well-crafted stories.

Citing the example of "The Diplomat", the actor said it's important that the movie, directed by Shivam Nair of "Naam Shabana" and "Special Ops", attains commercial success as that will empower him and his team to continue making such films.

Actor-producer John Abraham says he has often been written off in the industry in his over two-decade-long career but his audience has kept him going, something that he respects and wants to repay by telling good stories. Abraham has hits in varied genres whether it is high-octane actioners like "Dhoom", "Race 2", "Satyameva Jayate", "Dishoom", and "Pathaan"; comedies such as "Garam Masala", "Dostana", "Housefull 2" or dramas like "Water", "No Smoking", "New York", "Madras Café", "Parmanu", and "Vedaa".
The actor, whose next release "The Diplomat" is inspired by true incidents, said the film will, hopefully, resonate with viewers in the brightest way possible.

"People have, in the past, said that 'Parmanu' marked my 1.0 version because I'd disappeared for four years. These are obituaries that are written every day about me, and it's fine, I don't have a problem with it. My career has been built on criticism, I enjoy it," Abraham told PTI in an interview.

"The only thing that's kept me going in this is my audience. People in the trade, producers, critics they all judge you by numbers and I get all that, and I respect that. That's business. But the only people that have kept me going and have made me survive is my audience. And I made 'The Diplomat' for that audience," he added.