Anurag Kashyap Applauds John Abraham’s Performance in The Diplomat, Calls It a Refreshing Change

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has lauded John Abraham for his performance in the upcoming political thriller The Diplomat. Directed by Shivam Nair, the film features John in the role of Indian diplomat JP Singh and is set to hit theatres this week.

In an interview with The Hindu, Anurag shared his thoughts on the film and John’s acting, expressing his excitement over seeing a different side of the actor. “I really liked The Diplomat. I told John, ‘After a long time, I am seeing you being a very good actor.’ He is not doing unnecessary action or herogiri in the film. He is solely playing a character. And Shivam Nair has made a really engaging film," he said.

Anurag and John have previously worked together in the 2007 psychological thriller No Smoking. Though the film didn’t perform well at the box office, it has since gained a cult following. During their recent chat, John expressed his desire to work on No Smoking 2. While Anurag didn’t dismiss the idea, he stressed the importance of having a strong concept. “John really means it, but I want a subject. Over a period of time, a film achieves a cult following. So it becomes even more scary to meet people’s expectations. I want to go into that zone only if the subject matter is unique," he explained.

The Diplomat is inspired by real-life events and explores the high-stakes world of diplomacy. The film follows JP Singh, an Indian diplomat stationed in Pakistan, who finds himself caught in a tense and dangerous mission.

The story revolves around Uzma Ahmed, played by Sadia Khateeb, an Indian woman tricked into traveling to Pakistan under false promises of love, only to be forced into marriage and held captive. Desperate to escape, she reaches out to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for help. As JP Singh takes on the challenge, he must navigate political obstacles, bureaucratic red tape, and looming threats to bring Uzma home safely. With time running out, he faces a tough choice—whether to follow strict international protocols or risk everything to ensure her freedom.

With John Abraham stepping away from his usual action-packed roles, The Diplomat promises to showcase his acting in a new light, making it one of his most anticipated films in recent years. Fans are eager to see how he brings this real-life story to the big screen.