Tehran Movie Review – John Abraham Leaves the Muscle Behind in This Brainy Bombshell

Director – Arun Gopalan

Cast – John Abraham, Neeru Bajwa, Manushi Chhillar, Hadi Khajanpour

Duration – 118 Minutes

Rating – 4

You don’t walk into Tehran expecting subtlety — but that’s exactly what you get. This isn’t your usual jingoistic action-fest. Instead, director Arun Gopalan delivers a razor-sharp political thriller that trades bullets for brains, loud speeches for loaded silences, and chest-thumping for moral complexity. And front and center is John Abraham, who dials down the decibels and dials up the depth.

The film is inspired by the real-life 2012 bombing targeting Israeli diplomats in Delhi, but it smartly avoids becoming a documentary or a propaganda piece. It opens with a chilling voiceover about the long-standing cold war between Iran and Israel — a conflict that plays out not just in headlines, but in back alleys and bureaucracies. The inciting incident — a car explosion that injures many and kills a young flower-selling girl — is more than just a plot device. It’s personal for DCP Rajeev Kumar (Abraham), and it sets off a chain of events that spirals from Delhi’s chaos to international corridors of power.

John Abraham’s portrayal of Rajeev is refreshingly internal. Gone are the slow-motion struts and flexed biceps. In their place is a man grappling with duty, grief, and decisions that don’t come with clear answers. It’s one of his most grounded performances, and it works because the script gives him space to show the weariness behind the uniform. His silences say more than a monologue ever could.

One of the most gripping portions of the film is when Rajeev breaks protocol and goes rogue. Tired of diplomatic delays and red tape, he takes matters into his own hands. The tonal shift in the second half is palpable — the tension thickens, the risks multiply, and the lines between justice and revenge blur rapidly. It’s a smart narrative decision that brings urgency and character depth in equal measure.

Neeru Bajwa adds gravitas as diplomat Sheilaja — calm under fire, calculating without being cold. Her performance is sharp and poised, adding weight to the film’s political chessboard. Manushi Chhillar, though limited in screen time, plays SI Divya Rana with restraint and relevance. Her role ties directly to a major twist, and she leaves a lasting impression without saying much — a subtle but solid addition to the cast.

The film’s antagonist, Asraf Khan, played chillingly by Hadi Khajanpour, is an exercise in quiet menace. There are no theatrics here, just a cold stare and calculated moves. The supporting cast, too, is carefully chosen, and even the smallest roles are fleshed out with purpose. No filler characters — only people with something at stake.

Visually, Tehran is stunning without being flashy. Cinematographers Ievgen Gubrebko and Andre Menezes capture the gritty corners of Delhi and the sterile sharpness of Abu Dhabi with equal finesse. The colour grading is clever — warm and lived-in during Rajeev’s personal moments, stark and desaturated during espionage ops. Ketan Sodha’s music is understated, enhancing rather than intruding, and Akshara Prabhakar’s editing keeps the film steady and sharp.

The screenplay, penned by Ritesh Shah, Ashish P. Verma, and Bindni Karia, deserves praise for walking a tightrope between realism and tension. It doesn’t take sides, doesn’t pander, and never feels like a lecture. It understands that global politics is never black and white — and that sometimes, the enemy isn’t a face but a system, or worse, a decision made behind closed doors.

Tehran doesn’t simplify. That’s its strength. It embraces the messy ambiguity of real-world conflicts — where intentions clash, alliances shift, and truth is negotiable. Even the ending refuses to deliver the kind of neat closure thrillers often rely on. It leaves you thinking, unsettled, and a little uneasy — as any good political thriller should.

Produced by Maddock Films and Bake My Cake Films, Tehran isn’t trying to please everyone — and that’s a good thing. If you’re expecting non-stop action, slow-mo punches, and monologues about patriotism, this may not be your cup of chai. But if you’re in the mood for something cerebral, emotionally charged, and grounded in the complexities of global politics, Tehran is the spy thriller you didn’t know you needed.

Now streaming exclusively on ZEE5.