The Diplomat review: John Abraham has attempted to break away from his usual action-packed roles with ‘The Diplomat’, after facing criticism during the press conference of his last film ‘Vedaa’. While John brings a fresh approach, the real hero of the film is Sadia Khateeb, who plays Uzma Ahmed with remarkable intensity. She steals the spotlight in several scenes, carrying the emotional weight of the film on her shoulders.
The Diplomat story
Based on a real-life incident, ‘The Diplomat’ follows JP Singh, an Indian diplomat stationed in Pakistan. One day, Uzma Ahmed, an Indian woman, arrives at the Indian Embassy, claiming she was tricked into marriage by a Pakistani man and is now held captive. She desperately seeks help to return to India, and JP Singh takes on the challenge of rescuing her. The film also touches upon the role of then-External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the real-life operation.
How is The Diplomat?
While ‘The Diplomat’ brings an important and lesser-known story to the forefront, it lacks the thrill and gripping execution seen in films like ‘Raazi’ and ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’. The film is relatively simple in its storytelling, focusing more on diplomacy than high-voltage drama, which might make it feel slow-paced at times. A bit more cinematic liberty and engaging moments could have elevated the overall experience. Despite this, the film remains watchable, primarily due to strong performances.
Performances
Sadia Khateeb is undoubtedly the soul of the film. After her impressive debut in ‘Raksha Bandhan’, she gets a well-deserved opportunity to showcase her acting skills here, delivering a deeply moving performance. From her expressions to her dialogue delivery, she is flawless, making us wonder why such talented actors don’t get more opportunities in the industry.
John Abraham, on the other hand, tries to step into an unconventional role, but his transformation into a diplomat feels superficial. Unlike Vicky Kaushal in ‘Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’ or Randeep Hooda in ‘Sarbjit’, John’s appearance doesn’t fully convince as JP Singh—his usual muscular physique doesn’t help much either. However, his effort to move away from action-driven roles is commendable.
Kumud Mishra delivers a strong performance but deserved more screen time. Sharib Hashmi once again proves his acting mettle, while Revathi does justice to her role with a solid supporting act.
Direction
Directed by Shivam Nair and written by Ritesh Shah, ‘The Diplomat’ is a straightforward retelling of a real-life rescue mission. The film could have benefited from a bit more cinematic drama to make it more commercially appealing. The narrative remains simple, which, while effective in conveying the story, makes some portions feel underwhelming.
Final Verdict
Despite its shortcomings, ‘The Diplomat’ is a decent one-time watch, thanks to Sadia Khateeb’s stellar performance and a refreshing attempt by John Abraham. While the film lacks the intensity of other spy thrillers, it succeeds in bringing an important story to light.
